Discretization Methods for CFD
• The governing equation like mass, momentum and energy are expressed in terms of
partial differential equations (PDEs). These equations are space and time-dependent. We
can not solve PDEs like ordinary differential equations. However, partial differential
equations are boundary value problems. After discrediting with a numerical method, we
can compute values based on initial and boundary conditions.
• Discretization converts the transport equation (mass, momentum, and energy) in the
partial differential form to a set of algebraic equations. Three numerical methods are
widely used to discretize the partial differential equations namely:
• Finite Difference Method (FDM)
• Finite Element Method (FEM)
• Finite Volume Method (FVM)
• The discretization methods approximate the PDEs of fluid flows with numerical model
equations, which are solved using different numerical methods.
Finite difference method (FDM)
• The computational domain is usually divided into hexahedral elements (grids) and
the numerical solution is obtained at each node
• The finite difference method (FDM) is simple to understand when the physical
elements are defined in the Cartesian coordinate system, but the use of curvilinear
transforms the method can be extended to domains that can not be easily
represented using brick-shaped elements
• The discretization results in a system of equations of the variable for grid points,
and once a solution is obtained then a discrete representation of the solution is
obtained.
Note the following points for FDM:
• It is applicable only for regular grid (equal size of meshing).
• This method is based on Taylor’s series of differentiation. Finite difference
methods for spatial derivatives with different order of accuracies is obtained
using Taylor expansions like first or second order upwind difference scheme
(UDS), central differences schemes (CDS), etc.
• The FDM is difficult to use for non-uniform grids. Hence it is rarely used
for CFD solvers
• This method is not easy to implement conservation of mass, momentum and
energy
• Taylor series of expansion dicretizes diferential terms in partial differential
equations
Forward Difference :
Backward Difference :
Order of Accuracy
For the term In mass,momentum,energy equations
5.Rearrange the equation with derivative terms in R.H.S side other terms in L.H.S
6.Take ∆x
common
from R.H.S
all
derivative
terms
7.Rearrange the eqn
1. Split the domain into “n” number of grid points.
2. consider one grid point i,j .
3. Forward Difference method take right side grid point (i.e i+1,j)
4. apply Taylor series
Order of
accuracy
1. Split the domain into “n” number of grid points.
2. consider one grid point i,j .
3. Backward Difference method take left side grid point (i.e i-1,j)
4. apply Taylor series for i-1,j grid
5.Rearrange the equation with derivative terms in R.H.S side other terms in L.H.S
6.Take ∆x common from R.H.S all derivative terms and simplify
7.Rearrange the eqn
Forward difference eqn after apply Taylor series
Backward difference eqn after apply Taylor series
For T/X ,i.e first
order derivative
Forward difference eqn after apply Taylor series
Backward difference eqn after apply Taylor series
For 2T/X2 ,i.e second order derivative
In an explicit numerical method S would be evaluated
in terms of known quantities at the previous time step
An implicit method, in contrast, would evaluate some
or all of the terms in S in terms of unknown quantities
at the new time step future time step.
