An adaptive pathline-based particle tracking algorithm for the Eulerian–Lagrangian method

✍ Scribed by Jacob Bensabat; Quanlin Zhou; Jacob Bear

• Book ID: 104326982
• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 2000
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 512 KB
• Volume: 23
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0309-1708
• DOI: 10.1016/s0309-1708(99)00025-1

✦ Synopsis

The accuracy in determining the Lagrangian concentration in the Eulerian±Lagrangian method depends on both the particle tracking algorithm and concentration interpolation. In most existing particle tracking algorithms, accurate tracking cannot be achieved, particularly in a complicated unsteady ¯ow. Also mechanisms for error estimation and accuracy control are not available. A new algorithm is developed by re®ning the process of particle tracking, making use of a series of available travel time increments (ATTIs). The ATTIs are selected on the basis of tracking accuracy and eciency. These are controlled by practical indices related to the rate of particle velocity variation (magnitude and direction). The particle velocity is determined by bilinear interpolation in space and time. The proposed algorithm combines an inter-element re®nement, consistent with the piecewise interpolation of velocity, and an in-element pathline-based re®nement. No mesh re®nement is needed. Numerical simulations have been used to demonstrate the accuracy of the proposed algorithm. A comparison between the results obtained by using the proposed algorithm and by some existing techniques shows that the new algorithm can provide an accurate and ecient particle tracking, especially in a complicated unsteady heterogeneous ¯ow.