Lecturer: Stefano Sibilla  

Course name: Numerical simulation of hydraulic phenomena
Course code: 064168
Degree course: Ingegneria per l'Ambiente e il Territorio, Ingegneria Civile
Disciplinary field of science: ICAR/01
University credits: CFU 3
Course website: n.d.

Specific course objectives

The course shows the principal methods used to solve numerically the equations of flui mechanics. Students should acquire the experience needed for solving simple hydraulic engineering problems through an "intelligent" use of commercial CFD codes.

Course programme

The equations of fluid mechanics
Navier-Stokes equations. Euler equations for inviscid flows. Mathematical properties of hyperbolic systems. Model problems: linear convection equation, Burgers equation.

Numerical solution techniques
The problem of spatial discretization: finite difference methods. Order of accuracy. Uniform and non-uniform computational meshes. Explicit and implict time integration. Stability analysis. Numerical dissipation. Central difference and upwind methods. Finite volume methods: cell-centered and cell-vertex schemes.

Numerical solution of the Navier-Stokes equations
Solution methods for multi-dimensional parabolic problems. Linearization of non-linear terms in implicit schemes. Projection methods for the solution of the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations.

Introduction to turbulence modelling
Turbulence physics. Direct Numerical Simulation of turbulence (DNS). Reynolds-stress tensor modelling: algebraic models and “k-epsilon” two-equation models. Wall turbulece: specific models, wall functions.

Course entry requirements

Basic knowledge of fluid mechanics and numerical analysis

Course structure and teaching

Lectures (hours/year in lecture theatre): 16
Practical class (hours/year in lecture theatre): 0
Practicals / Workshops (hours/year in lecture theatre): 20

Suggested reading materials

J.H. Ferziger, M. Peric. Computational methods for fluid dynamics. Springer, 2002.

Testing and exams

Oral exam with discussion of a written report on the results obtained during the lab classes.