An Application of Distributed Computing to the Finite Element Investigation of Lift Force on a Freely-Rotating Sphere in Simple Shear Flow
Gustavo C. Buscaglia, H. E. Ferrari, Pablo M. Carrica, Enzo Alberto Dari · Fluids Engineering · 1999
Abstract An application of “cluster computing” in finite element CFD is reported, demonstrating the feasibility of solving relevant 3D problems on low-cost architectures (PC’s connected by fast Ethernet network). The main ingredients of our implementation are described. The results concern the lift force on a solid particle in simple shear flow. It is shown that, if the particle is allowed to rotate freely about its center, the self-established rotation significantly alters the lift coefficient. in particular, the lift force points away from a wall for any Re (≤ 100), while if the particle does not rotate the lift changes sign. Suitable estimates for the typical time involved in the angular acceleration of solid spherical particles are derived.