A. Di Mascio

A self-adaptive oriented particles Level-Set method for tracking interfaces

A new method for tracking evolving interfaces by lagrangian particles in conjunction with a Level-Set approach is introduced. This numerical technique is based on the use of time evolution equations for fundamental vector and tensor quantities defined on the front and represents a new and convenient way to couple the advantages of the Eulerian description given by a Level-Set function @f to the use of Lagrangian massless particles. The term oriented points out that the information advected by the particles not only concern the spatial location, but also the local (outward) normal vector n to the interface @C and the second fundamental tensor (the shape operator) @?n. The particles are exactly located upon @C and provide all the requested information for tracking the interface on their own. In addition, a self-adaptive mechanism suitably modifies, at each time step, the markers distribution in the numerical domain: each particle behaves both as a potential seeder of new markers on @C (so as to guarantee an accurate reconstruction of the interface) and a de-seeder (to avoid any useless gathering of markers and to limit the computational effort). The algorithm is conceived to avoid any transport equation for @f and to confine the Level-Set function to the role of a mere post-processing tool; thus, all the numerical diffusion problems usually affecting the Level-Set methodology are removed. The method has been tested both on 2D and 3D configurations; it carries out a fast reconstruction of the interface and its accuracy is only limited by the spatial resolution of the mesh.

Coupling of Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics with Finite Volume method for free-surface flows

A new algorithm for the solution of free surface flows with large front deformation and fragmentation is presented. The algorithm is obtained by coupling a classical Finite Volume (FV) approach, that discretizes the Navier-Stokes equations on a block structured Eulerian grid, with an approach based on the Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) method, implemented in a Lagrangian framework. The coupling procedure is formulated in such a way that each solver is applied in the region where its intrinsic characteristics can be exploited in the most efficient and accurate way: the FV solver is used to resolve the bulk flow and the wall regions, whereas the SPH solver is implemented in the free surface region to capture details of the front evolution. The reported results clearly prove that the combined use of the two solvers is convenient from the point of view of both accuracy and computing time. A new algorithm for coupling meshless Lagrangian methods and Eulerian grid-based methods is proposed.A detailed validation using Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) and Finite Volume (FV) solvers is provided.To our knowledge this is the first time that a coupling like the present one is proposed, implemented and validated.The intrinsic characteristics of both solvers can be exploited to efficiently and accurately solve complex free-surface flows.The results prove that the coupling strategy is convenient from the point of view of both accuracy and computing time.

Application of dynamic overlapping grids to the simulation of the flow around a fully-appended submarine

The hydrodynamic characterization of control appendages for ship hulls is of paramount importance for the assessment of maneuverability characteristics. However, the accurate numerical simulation of turbulent flow around a fully appended maneuvering vessel is a challenging task, because of the geometrical complexity of the appendages and of the complications connected to their movement during the computation. In addition, the accurate description of the flow within the boundary layer is important in order to estimate correctly the forces acting on each portion of the hull.To this aim, the use of overlapping multi-block body fitted grids can be very useful to obtain both a proper description of each particular region in the computational domain and an accurate prediction of the boundary layer, retaining, at the same time, a good mesh quality. Moreover, block-structured grids with partial overlapping can be fruitfully exploited to control grid spacing close to solid walls, without propagation of undesired clustering of grid cells in the interior of the domain. This approach proved to be also very useful in reducing grid generation time.In the present paper, some details of the flow simulation around a fully appended submarine is reported, with emphasis on the issues related to the complexities of the geometry to be used in the simulations and to the need to move the appendages in order to change the configuration of the various appendages.

Coupled SPH–FV method with net vorticity and mass transfer

Abstract Recently, an algorithm for coupling a Finite Volume (FV) method, that discretize the Navier–Stokes equations on block structured Eulerian grids, with the weakly-compressible Lagrangian Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) was presented in [16] . The algorithm takes advantage of the SPH method to discretize flow regions close to free-surfaces and of the FV method to resolve the bulk flow and the wall regions. The continuity between the two solutions is guaranteed by overlapping zones. Here we extend the algorithm by adding the possibility to have: 1) net mass transfer between the SPH and FV sub-domains; 2) free-surface across the overlapping region. In this context, particle generation at common boundaries is required to prevent depletion or clustering of particles. This operation is not trivial, because consistency between the Lagrangian and Eulerian description of the flow must be retained to ensure mass conservation. We propose here a new coupling paradigm that extends the algorithm developed in [16] and renders it suitable to test cases where vorticity and free surface significantly pass from one domain to the other. On the SPH side, a novel technique for the creation/deletion of particle was developed. On the FV side, the information recovered from the SPH solver are exploited to improve free surface prediction in a fashion that resemble the Particle Level-Set algorithms. The combination of the two new features was tested and validated in a number of test cases where both vorticity and front evolution are important. Convergence and robustness of the algorithm are shown.