CALCULATION PROCEDURE FOR 3-D LAMINAR FLOWS IN COMPLEX GEOMETRIES USING A NONSTAGGERED NONORTHOGONAL GRID SYSTEM

In this paper the Navier-Stokes equations are solved for three-dimensi onal steady laminar flows in complex geometries using a nonorthogonal, nonstaggered coordinate system. The strong conservation form of the g overning equations is discretized using a finite volume method. The pr essure velocity coupling is ensured by using the pressure-weighted int erpolation method to calculate the velocities at the faces of control volumes. The method was assessed by comparing the predicted results fo r six test cases in which analytical solutions or experimental data we re available. They correspond to the transport of a scalar in a prescr ibed flow field, the flow through a square diffuser, the flow through a transforming elliptical duct, and the flow through an S-shaped duct. The predictions reveal good agreement with available data, demonstrat ing the accuracy and generality of the present method.