Assignment

Computational Gas Dynamics (AE-218)

January-April, 2010
Maximum Marks : 50

Due Date for submission : 05-03-2010

1. Consider the linear convection equation with a source term as

u
u
+c
= u
t
x
with the initial condition
u (x, 0) = u0 (x)
Using the method of characteristics, show that the solution of the above equation
is given by
u (x, t) = u0 (x ct) ct
Similarly, solve the equation
u
u
+ t2
=0
t
x
taking the initial condition as
u (x, t) = u0 (x)
[5 Marks]
2. Consider the inviscid Burgers equation
u
u
+u
=0
t
x
with the initial condition

1 if x < 0
u (x, t) = 1 x if 0 x 1

0 if x > 1
Using the method of characteristics and the Rankine-Hugoniot jump condition, derive the complete solution.
[10 Marks]
1

3. Consider the homogeneous Shallow Water Equations in 1-D

G
U
+
=0
t
x

(1)

where
"

U=

"

and G =

u
2
u + 2

(2)

with denoting the geopotential ( = gh) and u denoting the fluid velocity. Is
this system hyperbolic? Will these equations satisfy the homogeneity property like
Euler equations?
[5 Marks]
4. Consider the equations of linear acoustics
U
U
+A
=0
t
x
where

"

U=

"

and A =

0
a2

Consider the Riemann problem with the initial conditions for the above equations
given by
(
UL if x < 0
U (x, t) =
UR if x > 0
What types of waves will be present in the solution of this Riemann problem. Derive
the solution of this system of equations using characteristic variables.
[5 Marks]
5. Consider the Linear Convection Equation
u
u
+c
=0
t
x

(3)

un+1
= a1 unj1 + a2 unj + a3 unj+1
j

(4)

and a general scheme for (3) :

Derive a modified partial differential equation (MPDE) for the above general scheme.
Show that for the case of u being a constant, we get the consistency condition as
a1 + a2 + a3 = 1
2

(5)

Consistency condition also means that when the left and right states are equal, the
numerical flux equals the physical flux, i.e.,
gj+ 1 (uL , uR ) = g (U ) for uL = uR = U
2

(6)

Using the consistency condition, show that the numerical flux can be put in the
conservative form as :
x
gj+ 1 = (a1 uj a3 uj+1 )
(7)
2
t
and that
a1 a3 =
(8)
Show that we can now reduce the general scheme (4) to the scheme in artificial
viscosity form as
un+1
= unj
j
where =




 n
uj+1 unj1 + unj+1 2unj + unj1
2

(9)

ct
. Show that the stability condition for this form is given by
x
2
1

2
2

(10)

Discuss both the limits of this stability condition and identify known schemes in
those limits.
[10 Marks]
6. Consider the Burgers equation
1
u g (u)
+
= 0 whereg (u) = u2
t
x
2
Consider the following numerical methods for solving the above equation.
(a) Lax-Friedrichs Method
(b) Flux Splitting Method
(c) Approximate Riemann Solver of Roe
(d) Kinetic Scheme
(e) Relaxation Scheme

(11)

Apply them for the following test case, taken from the book Computational Gas
Dynamics by Culbert B. Laney (chapter 17).
Test case :
Find u(x,t=0.3) with the following initial conditions :
1
1 for |x| <
3
u (x, t = 0) =
1

1 for
< |x| 1
3

(12)

Use 40 evenly spaced grid points. Use the computational domain [1, 1] and use
periodic boundary conditions, that is
u (1, t) = u (1, t) for all t
Use a suitable time-step based on the CFL condition. The exact solution for this
problem is given by

u (x, t) =

for < x < b1

x b1
1 + 2
for b1 < x < b2
b2 b1
1
for b2 < x < bshock
1
for bshock < x <

(13)

where

1
1
1
b1 = t ; b2 = + t ; bshock =
(14)
3
3
3
1
1
The initial jump at x = creates a sonic expansion fan and the jump at x =
3
3
creates a steady shock. Both the expansion fan and the shock symmetrically span
the sonic point (where u = 0). Compare the numerical and analytical solutions
on the same plots. Compare all the numerical methods and give your comments.
Discuss the advantages and disadvantages. You can use any programming language
you like. Submit your programs, along with the results.
[15 marks]

A note on error function:

The error function can be approximated by a simple algebraic expansion (see the formula
7.1.26 of on page 299 in the Mathematical Handbook by Abromovitz and Stegun). Here
is a FORTRAN sub-routine for this function.
........................................................................
FUNCTION ERF(X)
IMPLICIT REAL *8 (A-H,O-Z)
4

ARG=X*X
E=0.0
IF(ARG.LT.20.0)E=EXP(-ARG)
C ERROR FUNCTION IS CALCULATED USING ABROMOVITZ
C AND STEGUN FORMULA 7.1.26 OF P.299
VB=ABS(X)
T=1./(1+0.3275911*VB)
ERR=1.061405429*T
ERR=(ERR-1.453152027)*T
ERR=(ERR+1.421413741)*T
ERR=(ERR-0.284496736)*T
ERR=(ERR+0.254829592)*T
ERR=1-ERR*E
IF(X.LT.0.0)ERR=-ERR
ERF=ERR
RETURN
END
C..................................................................
Many of the compilers contain a built-in function for calculating the error function.
Check the compiler which you use and use the built-in function. Use the above function
if the compiler does not provide a built-in error function.