Finite element analysis of convective and viscous flow

Some important features of the numerical solution of incompressible Navier-Stokes equations are discussed. A variational formulation of the incompressible Navier-Stokes problem is derived and applied to a channel with a backward step at Re = 200 and a height twice the height of the step. Velocity vectors calculated at the centroids of each finite element are shown, and boundary layer profiles are compared with results obtained by others for Re = 191. The convergence of vorticity at different points on the boundary is shown, and the unsteady nature of the flow is illustrated by plotting velocity profiles at different sections of the channel at different time steps. The numerical integration of the vorticity transport equation is considered by studying the basic characteristics of a model equation.