Computational Analysis of Fluid Forces on an Obstacle in a Channel Driven Cavity: Viscoplastic Material Based Characteristics

In the current work, an investigation has been carried out for the Bingham fluid flow in a channel-driven cavity with a square obstacle installed near the inlet. A square cavity is placed in a channel to accomplish the desired results. The flow has been induced using a fully developed parabolic velocity at the inlet and Neumann condition at the outlet, with zero no-slip conditions given to the other boundaries. Three computational grids, C-1, C-2, and C-3, are created by altering the position of an obstacle of square shape in the channel. Fundamental conservation and rheological law for viscoplastic Bingham fluids are enforced in mathematical modeling. Due to the complexity of the representative equations, an effective computing strategy based on the finite element approach is used. At an extra-fine level, a hybrid computational grid is created; a very refined level is used to obtain results with higher accuracy. The solution has been approximated using P-2 - P-1 elements based on the shape functions of the second and first-order polynomial polynomials. The parametric variables are ornamented against graphical trends. In addition, velocity, pressure plots, and line graphs have been provided for a better physical understanding of the situation Furthermore, the hydrodynamic benchmark quantities such as pressure drop, drag, and lift coefficients are assessed in a tabular manner around the external surface of the obstacle. The research predicts the effects of Bingham number (Bn) on the drag and lift coefficients on all three grids C-1, C-2, and C-3, showing that the drag has lower values on the obstacle in the C-2 grid compared with C-1 and C-3 for all values of Bn. Plug zone dominates in the channel downstream of the obstacle with augmentation in Bn, limiting the shear zone in the vicinity of the obstacle.

Automated summary

In this study, an investigation is conducted on the flow of Bingham fluid in a channel-driven cavity with a square obstacle near the inlet. Three computational grids are created by altering the position of the obstacle. A finite element approach is used to approximate the solution, and hydrodynamic benchmark quantities such as drag and lift coefficients are evaluated.