COMPUTATIONAL FLUID DYNAMICS

Presented by
Dr. Hesham M. Khalil
COURSE AGENDA
• Introduction
• Conservation Laws of Fluid Motion
• Turbulence
• Finite Volume Method for Diffusion Problems
• Finite Volume Method for Convection-Diffusion Problems
• Solution Algorithm for Pressure-Velocity Coupling in Steady Flows
• Solution of Discretized Equations
• Finite Volume Method for Unsteady Flow
• Implementation of Boundary Conditions

• Errors and Uncertainty in CFD Modelling

• Design Modeler and Meshing
• Fluent and CFD Post
• Final Project
SOLUTION ALGORITHMS FOR PRESSURE-VELOCITY COUPLING IN STEADY FLOWS

The SIMPLE algorithm

• The acronym SIMPLE stands for Semi-Implicit Method for Pressure- Linked Equations.

• The algorithm was originally put forward by Patankar and Spalding (1972) and is essentially a guess-

and-correct procedure for the calculation of pressure on the staggered grid arrangement introduced

above.
SOLUTION ALGORITHMS FOR PRESSURE-VELOCITY COUPLING IN STEADY FLOWS

The SIMPLE algorithm

• To initiate the SIMPLE calculation process a pressure field 𝑝∗ is guessed.

• Discretised momentum equations are solved using the guessed pressure field to yield velocity

components 𝑢∗ and 𝑣 ∗ as follows:

∗ ∗ ∗ ∗
𝑎𝑖,𝐽 𝑢𝑖,𝐽 = ෍ 𝑎𝑛𝑏 𝑢𝑛𝑏 + 𝑝𝐼−1,𝐽 − 𝑝𝐼,𝐽 𝐴𝑖,𝐽 + 𝑏𝑖,𝐽

∗ ∗ ∗ ∗
𝑎𝐼,𝑗 𝑣𝐼,𝑗 = ෍ 𝑎𝑛𝑏 𝑣𝑛𝑏 + 𝑝𝐼,𝐽−1 − 𝑝𝐼,𝐽 𝐴𝐼,𝑗 + 𝑏𝐼,𝑗
SOLUTION ALGORITHMS FOR PRESSURE-VELOCITY COUPLING IN STEADY FLOWS

The SIMPLE algorithm

• Now we define the correction 𝑝′ as the difference between correct pressure field 𝑝 and the guessed

pressure field 𝑝∗ , so that

𝑝 = 𝑝∗ + 𝑝′

• Similarly we define velocity corrections 𝑢′ and 𝑣 ′ to relate the correct velocities 𝑢 and 𝑣 to the

guessed velocities 𝑢∗ and 𝑣 ∗:

𝑢 = 𝑢∗ + 𝑢′

𝑣 = 𝑣∗ + 𝑣′
SOLUTION ALGORITHMS FOR PRESSURE-VELOCITY COUPLING IN STEADY FLOWS

The SIMPLE algorithm

• Substitution of the correct pressure field 𝑝 into the momentum equations yields the correct velocity

field (𝑢, 𝑣).

𝑎𝑖,𝐽 𝑢𝑖,𝐽 = ෍ 𝑎𝑛𝑏 𝑢𝑛𝑏 + 𝑝𝐼−1,𝐽 − 𝑝𝐼,𝐽 𝐴𝑖,𝐽 + 𝑏𝑖,𝐽

𝑎𝐼,𝑗 𝑣𝐼,𝑗 = ෍ 𝑎𝑛𝑏 𝑣𝑛𝑏 + 𝑝𝐼,𝐽−1 − 𝑝𝐼,𝐽 𝐴𝐼,𝑗 + 𝑏𝐼,𝑗

• Previous discretised equations link the correct velocity fields with the correct pressure field.
SOLUTION ALGORITHMS FOR PRESSURE-VELOCITY COUPLING IN STEADY FLOWS

The SIMPLE algorithm

• Subtraction of guessed equations from corrected ones gives :

∗ ∗ ∗ ∗
𝑎𝑖,𝐽 𝑢𝑖,𝐽 − 𝑢𝑖,𝐽 = ෍ 𝑎𝑛𝑏 𝑢𝑛𝑏 − 𝑢𝑛𝑏 + 𝑝𝐼−1,𝐽 − 𝑝𝐼−1,𝐽 − 𝑝𝐼,𝐽 − 𝑝𝐼,𝐽 𝐴𝑖,𝐽

∗ ∗ ∗ ∗
𝑎𝐼,𝑗 𝑣𝐼,𝑗 − 𝑣𝐼,𝑗 = ෍ 𝑎𝑛𝑏 𝑣𝑛𝑏 − 𝑣𝑛𝑏 + 𝑝𝐼,𝐽−1 − 𝑝𝐼,𝐽−1 − 𝑝𝐼,𝐽 − 𝑝𝐼,𝐽 𝐴𝐼,𝑗

• Using correction formulae, the previous equations may be rewritten as follows:

′ ′ ′ ′
𝑎𝑖,𝐽 𝑢𝑖,𝐽 = ෍ 𝑎𝑛𝑏 𝑢𝑛𝑏 + 𝑝𝐼−1,𝐽 − 𝑝𝐼,𝐽 𝐴𝑖,𝐽

′ ′ ′ ′
𝑎𝐼,𝑗 𝑣𝐼,𝑗 = ෍ 𝑎𝑛𝑏 𝑣𝑛𝑏 + 𝑝𝐼,𝐽−1 − 𝑝𝐼,𝐽 𝐴𝐼,𝑗
SOLUTION ALGORITHMS FOR PRESSURE-VELOCITY COUPLING IN STEADY FLOWS

The SIMPLE algorithm

′ ′
• At this point an approximation is introduced: σ 𝑎𝑛𝑏 𝑢𝑛𝑏 and σ 𝑎𝑛𝑏 𝑣𝑛𝑏 are dropped to simplify

equations for the velocity corrections.

• Omission of these terms is the main approximation of the SIMPLE algorithm.

• We obtain
′ ′ ′
𝑢𝑖,𝐽 = 𝑑𝑖,𝐽 𝑝𝐼−1,𝐽 − 𝑝𝐼,𝐽
′ ′ ′
𝑣𝐼,𝑗 = 𝑑𝐼,𝑗 𝑝𝐼,𝐽−1 − 𝑝𝐼,𝐽

𝐴𝑖,𝐽 𝐴𝐼,𝑗
𝑑𝑖,𝐽 = 𝑑𝐼,𝑗 =
𝑎𝑖,𝐽 𝑎𝐼,𝑗
SOLUTION ALGORITHMS FOR PRESSURE-VELOCITY COUPLING IN STEADY FLOWS

The SIMPLE algorithm

which gives
∗ ′ ′
𝑢𝑖,𝐽 = 𝑢𝑖,𝐽 + 𝑑𝑖,𝐽 𝑝𝐼−1,𝐽 − 𝑝𝐼,𝐽
∗ ′ ′
𝑣𝐼,𝑗 = 𝑣𝐼,𝑗 + 𝑑𝐼,𝑗 𝑝𝐼,𝐽−1 − 𝑝𝐼,𝐽

• Thus far we have only considered the momentum equations but, as mentioned earlier, the velocity field
is also subject to the constraint that it should satisfy continuity equation.
• Continuity is satisfied in discretised form for the scalar control volume shown in Figure :

𝜌𝑢𝐴 𝑖+1,𝐽 − 𝜌𝑢𝐴 𝑖,𝐽 + 𝜌𝑣𝐴 𝐼,𝑗+1 − 𝜌𝑣𝐴 𝐼,𝑗 =0

SOLUTION ALGORITHMS FOR PRESSURE-VELOCITY COUPLING IN STEADY FLOWS

The SIMPLE algorithm

SOLUTION ALGORITHMS FOR PRESSURE-VELOCITY COUPLING IN STEADY FLOWS

The SIMPLE algorithm

• Substitution of the corrected velocities into discretised continuity equation gives :

∗ ′ ′ ∗ ′ ′
𝜌𝑖+1,𝐽 𝐴𝑖+1,𝐽 𝑢𝑖+1,𝐽 + 𝑑𝑖+1,𝐽 𝑝𝐼,𝐽 − 𝑝𝐼+1,𝐽 − 𝜌𝑖,𝐽 𝐴𝑖,𝐽 𝑢𝑖,𝐽 + 𝑑𝑖,𝐽 𝑝𝐼−1,𝐽 − 𝑝𝐼,𝐽
∗ ′ ′ ∗ ′ ′
+ 𝜌𝐼,𝑗+1 𝐴𝐼,𝑗+1 𝑣𝐼,𝑗+1 + 𝑑𝐼,𝑗+1 𝑝𝐼,𝐽 − 𝑝𝐼,𝐽+1 − 𝜌𝐼,𝑗 𝐴𝐼,𝑗 𝑣𝐼,𝑗 + 𝑑𝐼,𝑗 𝑝𝐼,𝐽−1 − 𝑝𝐼,𝐽 =0

• This may be rearranged to give

′
𝜌𝑑𝐴 𝑖+1,𝐽 + 𝜌𝑑𝐴 𝑖,𝐽 + 𝜌𝑑𝐴 𝐼,𝑗+1 + 𝜌𝑑𝐴 𝐼,𝑗 𝑝𝐼,𝐽
′ ′ ′ ′
= 𝜌𝑑𝐴 𝑖+1,𝐽 𝑝𝐼+1,𝐽 + 𝜌𝑑𝐴 𝑖,𝐽 𝑝𝐼−1,𝐽 + 𝜌𝑑𝐴 𝐼,𝑗+1 𝑝𝐼,𝐽+1 + 𝜌𝑑𝐴 𝐼,𝑗 𝑝𝐼,𝐽−1
+ 𝜌𝑢∗ 𝐴 𝑖,𝐽 − 𝜌𝑢∗ 𝐴 𝑖+1,𝐽 + 𝜌𝑣 ∗ 𝐴 𝐼,𝑗 − 𝜌𝑣 ∗ 𝐴 𝐼,𝑗+1
SOLUTION ALGORITHMS FOR PRESSURE-VELOCITY COUPLING IN STEADY FLOWS

The SIMPLE algorithm

• Identifying the coefficients of 𝑝′ , this may be written as

′ ′ ′ ′ ′ ′
𝑎𝐼,𝐽 𝑝𝐼,𝐽 = 𝑎𝐼+1,𝐽 𝑝𝐼+1,𝐽 + 𝑎𝐼−1,𝐽 𝑝𝐼−1,𝐽 + 𝑎𝐼,𝐽+1 𝑝𝐼,𝐽+1 + 𝑎𝐼,𝐽−1 𝑝𝐼,𝐽−1 + 𝑏𝐼,𝐽

Where 𝑎𝐼,𝐽 = 𝑎𝐼+1,𝐽 + 𝑎𝐼−1,𝐽 + 𝑎𝐼,𝐽+1 + 𝑎𝐼,𝐽−1 and the coefficients are given below:

′
𝑎𝐼+1,𝐽 𝑎𝐼−1,𝐽 𝑎𝐼,𝐽+1 𝑎𝐼,𝐽−1 𝑏𝐼,𝐽
𝜌𝑢∗ 𝐴 𝑖,𝐽 − 𝜌𝑢∗ 𝐴 𝑖+1,𝐽
𝜌𝑑𝐴 𝑖+1,𝐽 𝜌𝑑𝐴 𝑖,𝐽 𝜌𝑑𝐴 𝐼,𝑗+1 𝜌𝑑𝐴 𝐼,𝑗
+ 𝜌𝑣 ∗ 𝐴 𝐼,𝑗 − 𝜌𝑣 ∗ 𝐴 𝐼,𝑗+1
SOLUTION ALGORITHMS FOR PRESSURE-VELOCITY COUPLING IN STEADY FLOWS

The SIMPLE algorithm

• The previous equation represents the discretised continuity equation as an equation for pressure
correction 𝑝′ .
• By solving this equation,

′ ′ ′ ′ ′ ′
𝑎𝐼,𝐽 𝑝𝐼,𝐽 = 𝑎𝐼+1,𝐽 𝑝𝐼+1,𝐽 + 𝑎𝐼−1,𝐽 𝑝𝐼−1,𝐽 + 𝑎𝐼,𝐽+1 𝑝𝐼,𝐽+1 + 𝑎𝐼,𝐽−1 𝑝𝐼,𝐽−1 + 𝑏𝐼,𝐽

the pressure correction field 𝑝′ can be obtained at all points.

• Once the pressure correction field is known, the correct pressure field and velocity components can
be obtained through correction formulae.

∗ ′ ′ ∗ ′ ′
𝑝 = 𝑝∗ + 𝑝′ 𝑢𝑖,𝐽 = 𝑢𝑖,𝐽 + 𝑑𝑖,𝐽 𝑝𝐼−1,𝐽 − 𝑝𝐼,𝐽 𝑣𝐼,𝑗 = 𝑣𝐼,𝑗 + 𝑑𝐼,𝑗 𝑝𝐼,𝐽−1 − 𝑝𝐼,𝐽
SOLUTION ALGORITHMS FOR PRESSURE-VELOCITY COUPLING IN STEADY FLOWS

The SIMPLE algorithm

′
• The omission of terms such as σ 𝑎𝑛𝑏 𝑢𝑛𝑏 in the derivation does not affect the final solution because
the pressure correction and velocity corrections will all be zero in a converged solution, giving 𝑝∗ =
𝑝, 𝑢∗ = 𝑢 and 𝑣 ∗ = 𝑣 .

• The pressure correction equation is susceptible to divergence unless some under-relaxation is used
during the iterative process, and new, improved, pressures 𝑝𝑛𝑒𝑤 are obtained with

𝑝𝑛𝑒𝑤 = 𝑝∗ + 𝛼𝑝 𝑝′
SOLUTION ALGORITHMS FOR PRESSURE-VELOCITY COUPLING IN STEADY FLOWS

The SIMPLE algorithm

• Whether 𝛼𝑝 is the pressure under-relaxation factor. If we select 𝛼𝑝 equal to 1 the guessed pressure
field 𝑝∗ is corrected by 𝑝′ .
• However, the corrections 𝑝′ , in particular when the guessed field 𝑝∗ is far away from the final
solution, is often too large for stable computations.
• A value of 𝛼𝑝 equal to zero would apply no correction at all, which is also undesirable.
• Taking 𝛼𝑝 between 0 and 1 allows us to add to guessed field 𝑝∗ a fraction of the correction field 𝑝′
that is large enough to move the iterative improvement process forward, but small enough to ensure
stable computations.
SOLUTION ALGORITHMS FOR PRESSURE-VELOCITY COUPLING IN STEADY FLOWS

The SIMPLE algorithm

• The velocities are also under-relaxed. The iteratively improved velocity components 𝑢𝑛𝑒𝑤 and 𝑣𝑛𝑒𝑤
are obtained from

𝑢𝑛𝑒𝑤 = 𝛼𝑢 𝑢 + 1 − 𝛼𝑢 𝑢 𝑛−1

𝑣 𝑛𝑒𝑤 = 𝛼𝑣 𝑣 + 1 − 𝛼𝑣 𝑣 𝑛−1

• where 𝛼𝑢 and 𝛼𝑣 are the 𝑢 - and 𝑣 -velocity under-relaxation factors, 𝑢 and 𝑣 are the corrected
𝑛−1 𝑛−1
velocity components without relaxation, and 𝑢 and 𝑣 represent their values obtained in
the previous iteration.
SOLUTION ALGORITHMS FOR PRESSURE-VELOCITY COUPLING IN STEADY FLOWS

The SIMPLE algorithm

• After some algebra it can be shown that with under-relaxation the discretised 𝑢 -momentum equation
takes the form

𝑎𝑖,𝐽 𝑎𝑖,𝐽 𝑛−1

𝑢𝑖,𝐽 = ෍ 𝑎𝑛𝑏 𝑢𝑛𝑏 + 𝑝𝐼−1,𝐽 − 𝑝𝐼,𝐽 𝐴𝑖,𝐽 + 𝑏𝑖,𝐽 + 1 − 𝛼𝑢 𝑢𝑖,𝐽
𝛼𝑢 𝛼𝑢

and the discretised 𝑣 -momentum equation

𝑎𝐼,𝑗 𝑎𝐼,𝑗
𝑣 = ෍ 𝑎𝑛𝑏 𝑣𝑛𝑏 + 𝑝𝐼,𝐽−1 − 𝑝𝐼,𝐽 𝐴𝐼,𝑗 + 𝑏𝐼,𝑗 + 1 − 𝛼𝑣 𝑣𝐼,𝑗𝑛−1
𝛼𝑣 𝐼,𝑗 𝛼𝑣
SOLUTION ALGORITHMS FOR PRESSURE-VELOCITY COUPLING IN STEADY FLOWS

The SIMPLE algorithm

• The pressure correction equation is also affected by velocity under-relaxation, and it can be shown
that 𝑑 -terms of the pressure correction equation become

𝐴𝑖,𝐽 𝛼𝑢 𝐴𝑖+1,𝐽 𝛼𝑢 𝐴𝐼,𝑗 𝛼𝑣 𝐴𝐼,𝑗+1 𝛼𝑣

𝑑𝑖,𝐽 = 𝑑𝑖+1,𝐽 = 𝑑𝐼,𝑗 = 𝑑𝐼,𝑗+1 =
𝑎𝑖,𝐽 𝑎𝑖+1,𝐽 𝑎𝐼,𝑗 𝑎𝐼,𝑗+1

• A correct choice of under-relaxation factors α is essential for cost effective simulations.

• Too large a value of 𝛼 may lead to oscillatory or even divergent iterative solutions, and a value which
is too small will cause extremely slow convergence.
• Unfortunately, the optimum values of under relaxation factors are flow dependent and must be
sought on a case-by-case basis.
Assembly of a complete method

• The SIMPLE algorithm gives a method of

calculating pressure and velocities.
• The method is iterative, and when other scalars
are coupled to the momentum equations the
calculation needs to be done sequentially.
• The sequence of operations in a CFD
procedure which employs the SIMPLE
algorithm is given in Figure
SOLUTION ALGORITHMS FOR PRESSURE-VELOCITY COUPLING IN STEADY FLOWS

The SIMPLER algorithm

• The SIMPLER (SIMPLE Revised) algorithm of Patankar (1980) is an improved version of

SIMPLE.
• In this algorithm the following discretised continuity equation is used to derive a discretised equation
for pressure, instead of a pressure correction equation as in SIMPLE.

𝜌𝑢𝐴 𝑖+1,𝐽 − 𝜌𝑢𝐴 𝑖,𝐽 + 𝜌𝑣𝐴 𝐼,𝑗+1 − 𝜌𝑣𝐴 𝐼,𝑗 =0

• Thus the intermediate pressure field is obtained directly without the use of a correction.
• Velocities are, however, still obtained through the velocity corrections of SIMPLE.

∗ ′ ′ ∗ ′ ′
𝑢𝑖,𝐽 = 𝑢𝑖,𝐽 + 𝑑𝑖,𝐽 𝑝𝐼−1,𝐽 − 𝑝𝐼,𝐽 𝑣𝐼,𝑗 = 𝑣𝐼,𝑗 + 𝑑𝐼,𝑗 𝑝𝐼,𝐽−1 − 𝑝𝐼,𝐽
SOLUTION ALGORITHMS FOR PRESSURE-VELOCITY COUPLING IN STEADY FLOWS

The SIMPLER algorithm

• The discretised momentum equations

𝑎𝑖,𝐽 𝑢𝑖,𝐽 = ෍ 𝑎𝑛𝑏 𝑢𝑛𝑏 + 𝑝𝐼−1,𝐽 − 𝑝𝐼,𝐽 𝐴𝑖,𝐽 + 𝑏𝑖,𝐽

𝑎𝐼,𝑗 𝑣𝐼,𝑗 = ෍ 𝑎𝑛𝑏 𝑣𝑛𝑏 + 𝑝𝐼,𝐽−1 − 𝑝𝐼,𝐽 𝐴𝐼,𝑗 + 𝑏𝐼,𝑗

are rearranged as
σ 𝑎𝑛𝑏 𝑢𝑛𝑏 + 𝑏𝑖,𝐽 𝐴𝑖,𝐽
𝑢𝑖,𝐽 = + 𝑝 − 𝑝𝐼,𝐽
𝑎𝑖,𝐽 𝑎𝑖,𝐽 𝐼−1,𝐽
σ 𝑎𝑛𝑏 𝑣𝑛𝑏 + 𝑏𝐼,𝑗 𝐴𝐼,𝑗
𝑣𝐼,𝑗 = + 𝑝𝐼,𝐽−1 − 𝑝𝐼,𝐽
𝑎𝐼,𝑗 𝑎𝐼,𝑗
SOLUTION ALGORITHMS FOR PRESSURE-VELOCITY COUPLING IN STEADY FLOWS

The SIMPLER algorithm

• In the SIMPLER algorithm pseudo-velocities 𝑢ො and 𝑣ො are now defined as follows:

σ 𝑎𝑛𝑏 𝑢𝑛𝑏 + 𝑏𝑖,𝐽

𝑢ො 𝑖,𝐽 =
𝑎𝑖,𝐽
σ 𝑎𝑛𝑏 𝑣𝑛𝑏 + 𝑏𝐼,𝑗
𝑣ො𝐼,𝑗 =
𝑎𝐼,𝑗

• Discretized momentum equations can now be written as

𝑢𝑖,𝐽 = 𝑢ො 𝑖,𝐽 + 𝑑𝑖,𝐽 𝑝𝐼−1,𝐽 − 𝑝𝐼,𝐽

𝑣𝐼,𝑗 = 𝑣ො𝐼,𝑗 + 𝑑𝐼,𝑗 𝑝𝐼,𝐽−1 − 𝑝𝐼,𝐽

SOLUTION ALGORITHMS FOR PRESSURE-VELOCITY COUPLING IN STEADY FLOWS

The SIMPLER algorithm

• Substituting for 𝑢𝑖,𝐽 and 𝑣𝐼,𝑗 from these equations into the discretised continuity equation, using
similar forms for 𝑢𝑖+1,𝐽 and 𝑣𝐼,𝑗+1 , results in

𝜌𝑖+1,𝐽 𝐴𝑖+1,𝐽 𝑢ො 𝑖+1,𝐽 + 𝑑𝑖+1,𝐽 𝑝𝐼,𝐽 − 𝑝𝐼+1,𝐽 − 𝜌𝑖,𝐽 𝐴𝑖,𝐽 𝑢ො 𝑖,𝐽 + 𝑑𝑖,𝐽 𝑝𝐼−1,𝐽 − 𝑝𝐼,𝐽
+ 𝜌𝐼,𝑗+1 𝐴𝐼,𝑗+1 𝑣ො𝐼,𝑗+1 + 𝑑𝐼,𝑗+1 𝑝𝐼,𝐽 − 𝑝𝐼,𝐽+1 − 𝜌𝐼,𝑗 𝐴𝐼,𝑗 𝑣ො𝐼,𝑗 + 𝑑𝐼,𝑗 𝑝𝐼,𝐽−1 − 𝑝𝐼,𝐽 =0

• The previous equation may be rearranged to give a discretised pressure equation

𝑎𝐼,𝐽 𝑝𝐼,𝐽 = 𝑎𝐼+1,𝐽 𝑝𝐼+1,𝐽 + 𝑎𝐼−1,𝐽 𝑝𝐼−1,𝐽 + 𝑎𝐼,𝐽+1 𝑝𝐼,𝐽+1 + 𝑎𝐼,𝐽−1 𝑝𝐼,𝐽−1 + 𝑏𝐼,𝐽
SOLUTION ALGORITHMS FOR PRESSURE-VELOCITY COUPLING IN STEADY FLOWS

The SIMPLER algorithm

Where 𝑎𝐼,𝐽 = 𝑎𝐼+1,𝐽 + 𝑎𝐼−1,𝐽 + 𝑎𝐼,𝐽+1 + 𝑎𝐼,𝐽−1 and the coefficients are given below:

′
𝑎𝐼+1,𝐽 𝑎𝐼−1,𝐽 𝑎𝐼,𝐽+1 𝑎𝐼,𝐽−1 𝑏𝐼,𝐽
𝜌𝑢𝐴
ො 𝑖,𝐽 − 𝜌𝑢𝐴
ො 𝑖+1,𝐽
𝜌𝑑𝐴 𝑖+1,𝐽 𝜌𝑑𝐴 𝑖,𝐽 𝜌𝑑𝐴 𝐼,𝑗+1 𝜌𝑑𝐴 𝐼,𝑗
+ 𝜌𝑣𝐴
ො 𝐼,𝑗 − 𝜌𝑣𝐴
ො 𝐼,𝑗+1
SOLUTION ALGORITHMS FOR PRESSURE-VELOCITY COUPLING IN STEADY FLOWS

The SIMPLER algorithm

• Note that the coefficients of the previous equation are the same as those in the SIMPLE discretised
pressure correction equation, with the difference that the source term 𝑏 is evaluated using the
pseudo-velocities.
• Subsequently, the discretised momentum equations are solved using the pressure field obtained
above. This yields the velocity components 𝑢∗ and 𝑣 ∗.
• The velocity correction equations are used in the SIMPLER algorithm to obtain corrected velocities.
• Therefore, the 𝑝′ -equation must also be solved to obtain the pressure corrections needed for the
velocity corrections.
The SIMPLER algorithm
SOLUTION ALGORITHMS FOR PRESSURE-VELOCITY COUPLING IN STEADY FLOWS

The SIMPLEC algorithm

• The SIMPLEC (SIMPLE-Consistent) algorithm of Van Doormal and Raithby (1984) follows the
same steps as the SIMPLE algorithm, with the difference that the momentum equations are
manipulated so that the SIMPLEC velocity correction equations omit terms that are less significant
than those in SIMPLE.

• The 𝑢 -velocity correction equation of SIMPLEC is given by

′ ′ ′
𝑢𝑖,𝐽 = 𝑑𝑖,𝐽 𝑝𝐼−1,𝐽 − 𝑝𝐼,𝐽

𝐴𝑖,𝐽
where 𝑑𝑖,𝐽 =
𝑎𝑖,𝐽 − σ 𝑎𝑛𝑏
SOLUTION ALGORITHMS FOR PRESSURE-VELOCITY COUPLING IN STEADY FLOWS

The SIMPLEC algorithm

• Similarly the modified 𝑣 -velocity correction equation is

′ ′ ′
𝑣𝐼,𝑗 = 𝑑𝐼,𝑗 𝑝𝐼,𝐽−1 − 𝑝𝐼,𝐽

𝐴𝐼,𝑗
where 𝑑𝐼,𝑗 =
𝑎𝐼,𝑗 − σ 𝑎𝑛𝑏

• The discretised pressure correction equation is the same as in SIMPLE, except that the 𝑑 -terms are
calculated from the previous equations.
• The sequence of operations of SIMPLEC is identical to that of SIMPLE.
SOLUTION ALGORITHMS FOR PRESSURE-VELOCITY COUPLING IN STEADY FLOWS

The PISO algorithm

• The PISO algorithm, which stands for Pressure Implicit with Splitting of Operators, of Issa (1986).
PISO involves one predictor step and two corrector steps and may be seen as an extension of
SIMPLE, with a further corrector step to enhance it.

Predictor step

• Discretised momentum equations are solved with a guessed or intermediate pressure field 𝑝∗ to give
velocity components 𝑢∗ and 𝑣 ∗using the same method as the SIMPLE algorithm.
SOLUTION ALGORITHMS FOR PRESSURE-VELOCITY COUPLING IN STEADY FLOWS

The PISO algorithm

Corrector step 1

• The first corrector step of SIMPLE is introduced to give a velocity field (𝑢∗∗ , 𝑣 ∗∗ ) which satisfies the
discretised continuity equation.

∗∗ ∗ ′ ′ ∗∗ ∗ ′ ′
𝑢𝑖,𝐽 = 𝑢𝑖,𝐽 + 𝑑𝑖,𝐽 𝑝𝐼−1,𝐽 − 𝑝𝐼,𝐽 𝑣𝐼,𝑗 = 𝑣𝐼,𝑗 + 𝑑𝐼,𝑗 𝑝𝐼,𝐽−1 − 𝑝𝐼,𝐽

• In the context of the PISO method, SIMPLE pressure correction equation is called the first pressure
correction equation. It is solved to yield the first pressure correction field 𝑝′ .
• Once the pressure corrections are known, the velocity components 𝑢∗∗ and 𝑣 ∗∗ can be obtained
through upper equations.
SOLUTION ALGORITHMS FOR PRESSURE-VELOCITY COUPLING IN STEADY FLOWS

The PISO algorithm

Corrector step 2

• The discretised momentum equations for 𝑢∗∗ and 𝑣 ∗∗ are

∗∗ ∗ ∗∗ ∗∗
𝑎𝑖,𝐽 𝑢𝑖,𝐽 = ෍ 𝑎𝑛𝑏 𝑢𝑛𝑏 + 𝑝𝐼−1,𝐽 − 𝑝𝐼,𝐽 𝐴𝑖,𝐽

∗∗ ∗ ∗∗ ∗∗
𝑎𝐼,𝑗 𝑣𝐼,𝑗 = ෍ 𝑎𝑛𝑏 𝑣𝑛𝑏 + 𝑝𝐼,𝐽−1 − 𝑝𝐼,𝐽 𝐴𝐼,𝑗

• A twice-corrected velocity field (𝑢∗∗∗ , 𝑣 ∗∗∗ ) may be obtained by solving the momentum equations
once more:
∗∗∗ ∗∗ ∗∗∗ ∗∗∗
𝑎𝑖,𝐽 𝑢𝑖,𝐽 = ෍ 𝑎𝑛𝑏 𝑢𝑛𝑏 + 𝑝𝐼−1,𝐽 − 𝑝𝐼,𝐽 𝐴𝑖,𝐽

∗∗∗ ∗∗ ∗∗∗ ∗∗∗

𝑎𝐼,𝑗 𝑣𝐼,𝑗 = ෍ 𝑎𝑛𝑏 𝑣𝑛𝑏 + 𝑝𝐼,𝐽−1 − 𝑝𝐼,𝐽 𝐴𝐼,𝑗
SOLUTION ALGORITHMS FOR PRESSURE-VELOCITY COUPLING IN STEADY FLOWS

The PISO algorithm

Corrector step 2

• Subtraction of the first two equations from the second two equations yields :

σ ∗∗ ∗
∗∗∗ ∗∗ 𝑎𝑛𝑏 𝑢 𝑛𝑏 − 𝑢 𝑛𝑏 ′′ ′′
𝑢𝑖,𝐽 = 𝑢𝑖,𝐽 + + 𝑑𝑖,𝐽 𝑝𝐼−1,𝐽 − 𝑝𝐼,𝐽
𝑎𝑖,𝐽

σ ∗∗ ∗
∗∗∗ ∗∗ 𝑎 𝑣
𝑛𝑏 𝑛𝑏 − 𝑣𝑛𝑏 ′′ ′′
𝑣𝐼,𝑗 = 𝑣𝐼,𝑗 + + 𝑑𝐼,𝑗 𝑝𝐼,𝐽−1 − 𝑝𝐼,𝐽
𝑎𝐼,𝑗

• Where 𝑝′′ is the second pressure correction so that 𝑝∗∗∗ may be obtained by

𝑝∗∗∗ = 𝑝∗∗ + 𝑝′′

SOLUTION ALGORITHMS FOR PRESSURE-VELOCITY COUPLING IN STEADY FLOWS

The PISO algorithm

Corrector step 2

• Substitution of 𝑢∗∗∗ and 𝑣 ∗∗∗ in the discretised continuity equation yields a second pressure correction
equation
′′ ′′ ′′ ′′ ′′ ′′
𝑎𝐼,𝐽 𝑝𝐼,𝐽 = 𝑎𝐼+1,𝐽 𝑝𝐼+1,𝐽 + 𝑎𝐼−1,𝐽 𝑝𝐼−1,𝐽 + 𝑎𝐼,𝐽+1 𝑝𝐼,𝐽+1 + 𝑎𝐼,𝐽−1 𝑝𝐼,𝐽−1 + 𝑏𝐼,𝐽

Where 𝑎𝐼,𝐽 = 𝑎𝐼+1,𝐽 + 𝑎𝐼−1,𝐽 + 𝑎𝐼,𝐽+1 + 𝑎𝐼,𝐽−1 and the coefficients are given below:

′′
𝑎𝐼+1,𝐽 𝑎𝐼−1,𝐽 𝑎𝐼,𝐽+1 𝑎𝐼,𝐽−1 𝑏𝐼,𝐽

𝜌𝐴 ∗∗ ∗
𝜌𝐴 ∗∗ ∗
൥ ෍ 𝑎𝑛𝑏 𝑢𝑛𝑏 − 𝑢𝑛𝑏 − ෍ 𝑎𝑛𝑏 𝑢𝑛𝑏 − 𝑢𝑛𝑏
𝑎 𝑖,𝐽
𝑎 𝑖+1,𝐽
𝜌𝑑𝐴 𝑖+1,𝐽 𝜌𝑑𝐴 𝑖,𝐽 𝜌𝑑𝐴 𝐼,𝑗+1 𝜌𝑑𝐴 𝐼,𝑗
SOLUTION ALGORITHMS FOR PRESSURE-VELOCITY COUPLING IN STEADY FLOWS

The PISO algorithm

Corrector step 2

• 𝑝∗∗∗ is then obtained by

𝑝∗∗∗ = 𝑝∗∗ + 𝑝′′

• Finally the twice-corrected velocity field is obtained from equations

σ ∗∗ ∗
∗∗∗ ∗∗ 𝑎𝑛𝑏 𝑢 𝑛𝑏 − 𝑢 𝑛𝑏 ′′ ′′
𝑢𝑖,𝐽 = 𝑢𝑖,𝐽 + + 𝑑𝑖,𝐽 𝑝𝐼−1,𝐽 − 𝑝𝐼,𝐽
𝑎𝑖,𝐽

σ ∗∗ ∗
∗∗∗ ∗∗ 𝑎𝑛𝑏 𝑣𝑛𝑏 − 𝑣𝑛𝑏 ′′ ′′
𝑣𝐼,𝑗 = 𝑣𝐼,𝑗 + + 𝑑𝐼,𝑗 𝑝𝐼,𝐽−1 − 𝑝𝐼,𝐽
𝑎𝐼,𝑗
The PISO algorithm
SOLUTION ALGORITHMS FOR PRESSURE-VELOCITY COUPLING IN STEADY FLOWS

General comments on SIMPLE, SIMPLER, SIMPLEC and PISO

• The SIMPLE algorithm is relatively straightforward and has been successfully implemented in
numerous CFD procedures.
• The other variations of SIMPLE can produce savings in computational effort due to improved
convergence.
• In SIMPLE, the pressure correction 𝑝′ is satisfactory for correcting velocities but not so good for
correcting pressure.
• Hence the improved procedure SIMPLER uses the pressure corrections to obtain velocity corrections
only.
• A separate, more effective, pressure equation is solved to yield the correct pressure field.
SOLUTION ALGORITHMS FOR PRESSURE-VELOCITY COUPLING IN STEADY FLOWS

General comments on SIMPLE, SIMPLER, SIMPLEC and PISO

• Although the number of calculations involved in SIMPLER is about 30% larger than that for

SIMPLE, the fast convergence rate reportedly reduces the computer time by 30–50%.

• SIMPLEC and PISO have proved to be as efficient as SIMPLER in certain types of flows but it is not

clear whether it can be categorically stated that they are better than SIMPLER.

• Comparisons have shown that the performance of each algorithm depends on the flow conditions, the

degree of coupling between the momentum equation and scalar equations.

SOLUTION ALGORITHMS FOR PRESSURE-VELOCITY COUPLING IN STEADY FLOWS

General comments on SIMPLE, SIMPLER, SIMPLEC and PISO

• A comprehensive comparison of PISO, SIMPLER and SIMPLEC methods for a variety of steady

flow problems by Jang et al. (1986) showed that, for problems in which momentum equations are not

coupled to a scalar variable, PISO showed robust convergence behavior and required less

computational effort than SIMPLER and SIMPLEC.

• It was also observed that when the scalar variables were closely linked to velocities, PISO had no

significant advantage over the other methods.