ANSYS FLUENT

Flow over an Airfoil

Introduction
This tutorial provides instructions for creating a fluid volume and mesh around a NACA 4314 airfoil and
for analyzing the flow in FLUENT. It also shows how to use multiple fluid bodies and edge sizing to create
a “c-mesh”. The entire meshed fluid field and a portion of the mesh near the airfoil are shown below.

Generate data points that define the airfoil

1. Open an internet browser and go the the NACA 4 Digits Series Profile Generator at https://rb.gy/ivil7m

On some computers, Java may be disabled

and the website won’t display properly.
Check your browser’s settings if you are
having trouble viewing the website.
This site enables users to generate any 4314
standard NACA 4-digit 2D airfoil.
2. Adjust the top three sliders to create a non-
symmetric 4314 airfoil.
3. Change # Points to “60” and Point Size to “4” so
that the points are clearly visible.
If too many points are used to define the
airfoil, DesignModeler won’t be able to
create the profile of the airfoil because the
distance between adjacent points is too
small.
4. Show Points, then highlight everything that
appears in the window to the right of the sliders and copy it to the clipboard.
In Windows <Ctrl> + <A> can be used to highlight the data points, then <Ctrl> + <C> can be
used to copy the selection to the clipboard.
5. Open Microsoft Excel.
A simple text editing program (such as vi in linux) can also be used to format the airfoil data.
Use the following steps as a guidline to create a compatible file using a text editor:
• Paste in the data (<Ctrl> + <V> in Windows machines).
• Create lines of data with five fields separated by spaces or tabs, as described below.
• Eliminate lines of data that have identical coordinates.
• Precede comments with “#”.
• Save the data as a simple text file.
6. LMB in cell C1 to select it, then paste the data from the clipboard (<Ctrl> + <V>).
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 7. LMB on the “Data” tab. The data should still be highlighted. Text to Columns.
8. In Convert Text to Columns, Next. Select “Space” under Delimiters.
9. Next, then Finish to separate the data into two columns.
10. Insert a blank row between “NACA4314” and the airfoil data.
Rows can be inserted by RMB on a row number, then Insert. The new row will be inserted
above the row on which you clicked.
11. In row 2, type column labels that match the ones
shown to the right.
LMB on cell A2 and type “#Group” then
<Tab>, type “Point” <Tab>, type “X_cord” <Tab>, type “Y_cord” <Tab> and type “Z_cord”.
12. Insert a “#” before “NACA4314” in cell C1.
The “#” is used to denote a comment in DesignModeler coordinate files.
The first two rows of this excel file help keep the data organized, but they are not required.
13. In the first line of data, change the X coordinate to “1” and the Y coordinate to “0”.
The first data point should be located at the trailing edge of the airfoil, but due to resolution and
accuracy limits it is not exactly (1,0).
14. Enter “1” in cell A3 and A4, and fill through the rest of column A.
The first column in the spreadsheet denotes the group number for each set of points.
15. Starting in cell B3, enter “1” and increase to “2” in cell B4. Fill the rest of the column in numerical
order.
16. In column B of the last row of data, change the point number to “0”.
For closed curves, the last point number must be “0” in DesignModeler.
17. In cells E3, E4, etc. through the rest of the rows, enter “0” for the Z coordinate of each point.
18. Office Button-Save As. After selecting an appropriate folder, name the file “4314_Airfoil_Profile”.
Change the Save as type to “Excel Workbook”. Save-OK-Yes.
Saving the file as an Excel Workbok isn’t necessary, but is done so that the file can be easily
modified at a later time in the event that the import into DM is unsuccessful.
19. Repeat the procedure from the previous step, but change the Save as type to “Text (Tab delimited)”.
Answer “Yes” (or “OK”) to any warnings that may appear; not to worry about these messages.
20. Close Excel.

Create a FLUENT template in the Project Schematic window

1. This tutorial assumes that ANSYS Workbench is running but no projects are open.
2. Under View make sure that “Toolbox”, “Toolbox Customization” and “Project
Schematic” all have check marks next to them.
Check marks can be inserted by placing the cursor over the menu item
and LMB.
3. In Toolbox Customization under Analysis Systems, verify that “Fluid Flow
(FLUENT)” has a check mark next to it.
If column “A” is not shown in Toolbox Customization, 1 located to the
left of “Name” in Toolbox Customization.
To de-clutter your Workbench workspace, close or minimize Toolbox Customization; it is not
needed after this step.
4. In Toolbox, not Toolbox Customization, Fluid Flow (FLUENT) and hold the LMB to drag it into the
box that will appear in Project Schematic.
If there are no Analysis Systems visible in the Toolbox, try + (clicking “+”) next to Analysis
Systems in Toolbox.

Use the data points to create the airfoil in DesignModeler (DM)

1. Geometry [bold underline means to double click] in the Fluid Flow
(Fluent) template to open ANSYS DesignModeler.
2. At startup DM will prompt the user to select the desired length unit. LMB
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 on the circle next to “Meter”, then OK.
If this prompt does not appear, your version of DM was set to always use a certain unit of
length. If this is the case, Tools-Options-Units, and set Display Units Pop-up Window to “Yes”.
3. Concept-3D Curve. In Details View, Not Selected. Browse to where you saved the airfoil data, select
the text file, and Open. Lastly, change Merge Topology from “No” to “Yes”.
4. Generate [located in the menu above Tree Outline] to create the profile of the airfoil.
If a “!” appeared next to “Curve1” in Tree Outline, R-Curve1-Show Errors or Warnings to
display the reason why the 3D curve was not successful.
5. In the Display Toolbar, Look at Face/Plane/Sketch . This should also zoom in on the airfoil.
If you want to find out the name of any toolbar button, hover over the button with the cursor to
display its name.
6. Concept-Surfaces from Edges. LMB on the curve that was
created in the previous step to select it. When it turns green to
signify that it has been selected, Apply and Generate. The
inside of the airfoil should now be shaded – it is a surface.
7. Create-Thin/Surface. Select the surface created in the previous step
by LMB on it, then Apply in Details View.
8. Change Direction from “Inward” to “Outward”.
9. LMB on the box to the left of FD1, Thickness. For Parameter
Name, type “ExtrusionLength”. OK.
10. In Tree Outline, R-“Thin1”-Rename. Name this body “Airfoil”
and <Enter>. Generate.
11. In Tree Outline, LMB on “+” that is to the left of “2 Parts, 2 Bodies”. R-“Solid”-Rename. Type
“Airfoil” as the name for the solid and <Enter>.

Create the fluid volume

1. Create-Primitives-Box.
2. In Details View, From One Point and Diagonal to change Box
Type to “From Two Points”.
3. Enter the coordinates for Point 1: X = “1” m, Y = “-10” m, and Z =
“0” m.
4. Enter the coordinates for Point 2: X = “20” m, Y = “10” m.
5. To set the value for Point 2 Z Coordiante, LMB in the box to the
left of the label. For Parameter Name, type “ExtrusionLength”,
then OK. Generate.
Using defined parameters to set dimensions makes changing
dimensions easier later on.
6. Create-Primitives-Cylinder.
7. In Details View, set Origin X Coordinate = “1” m. Set FD10,
Radius = “10” m.
8. LMB in the box to the left of FD8, Axis Z Coordinate. For
Parameter Name, type “ExtrusionLength”, then OK. Generate.
9. Look at Face/Plane/Sketch .

Remove airfoil from fluid volume

1. Create-Boolean.
2. Change Operation from “Unite” to “Subtract”.
3. In Tree Outline, LMB on “+” that is to the left of “3 Parts, 3 Bodies” to display available bodies if
necessary (this may already be selected).
4. For Target Bodies, Not Selected, choose “Solid” in Tree Outline, and Apply.
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 5. For Tool Bodies, Not Selected, choose “Airfoil” in Tree Outline, and Apply. Generate.
6. Tools-Freeze.
Freezing prevents the geometry from combining with geometry that is created after the freeze.
Rotate slightly by dragging the MMB; you should see a small thickness of the airfoil body.
7. In Tree Outline, LMB on “Solid” under “2 Parts, 2 Bodies”. In Details View, change Body to “Fluid”
and Fluid/Solid to Fluid.

Slice the fluid volume and exit DM

1. Create-Slice. Select “ZXPlane” from Tree Outline. Apply to assign the selected plane as the Base
Plane. Generate.
Slicing the fluid volume into smaller volumes allows for greater control over mesh sizing.
2. New Plane . In Details View, set Base Plane as “YZPlane” (Select it in Tree Outline and Apply).
Change Transform 1 (RMB) to “Offset Z”. Set FD1, Value 1 = “1”m. Generate.
3. Create-Slice. Select “Plane4” from Tree Outline. Apply to assign the selected plane as the Base
Plane. Generate.
4. Simultaneously select the four volumes (“Fluid”) under “5 Parts, 5
Bodies” in the Tree Outline. RMB- Form New Part.
5. File-Save Project. After selecting an appropriate folder in which to
save the project, enter “4314Airfoil” for the File Name, and Save.
6. Close DM.
In Workbench, “Geometry” should now have a check mark.

Set the meshing method

7. Mesh in the Fluid Flow (Fluent) template to open ANSYS Meshing.
8. From the Meshing Options window that opens, select
“Tetrahedrons (Patch Independent)” to set the Mesh Method.
OK.
The Physics Preference was automatically set to CFD when
“Fluid Flow (FLUENT)” was chosen for the Analysis
System. Thus, it is not necessary to specify a preference in Meshing Options.
9. Units-Metric (m, kg, N, s, V, A).
10. In Outline, LMB on “Patch Independent”.
11. Use the drop down menu to change Method from
“Tetrahedrons” to “Automatic”.

Label faces
1. In an empty area of Graphics, RMB-View-Front.
2. Group-select the four exposed faces. RMB-Create
Named Selection. Enter “Front Symmetry” as the name
for the group of faces. <Enter>.
Hold <Ctrl> while LMB to make multiple
selections.
3. RMB-View-Back.
4. Group-select the four exposed faces. RMB-Create
Named Selection. Enter “Back Symmetry” as the name for the group of faces. <Enter>.
5. RMB-View-Right.
6. Scroll the MMB to zoom in until two faces are visible.
7. Group-select the two exposed faces. RMB-Create Named Selection. Enter “Outlet” as the name for
the group of faces. <Enter>.
8. RMB-View-Top.
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 rial – Flow Over an Airfoil, Pag
9. Zoom in until surfaces are visible. LMB on one of the exposed faces.
LMB from the toolbar. Extend to Limits.
10. RMB-Create Named Selection. Enter “Inlet” as the name for the group of
faces. <Enter>.
11. RMB-View-Front.
12. LMB Named Selections in the Outline. The labeled
selections should look similar to the ones to the right.

Insert edge sizing control

1. LMB “Mesh” in Outline.
2. LMB the rectangular face located in the top right. RMB-
Insert-Mapped Face Meshing.
3. Repeat the previous step for the rectangular face located
in the bottom-right.
4. In Outline, LMB on the “+” next to “Geometry”. LMB
on the “+” next to “Part”. RMB on the first “Fluid” and
Suppress All Other Bodies.
Edge sizing helps smooth the transition between the
four separate fluid volumes and creates a refined
mesh around the airfoil.
5. LMB “Mesh” from Outline.
6. Edge from the Display Toolbar.
7. LMB the left edge of the rectangle, then RMB-Insert-Sizing. Enter “.2”m for Element Size.
8. LMB the right edge of the rectangle, then RMB-
Insert-Sizing. Enter “.2”m for Element Size. Choose
the second Bias Type from the drop down menu.
Enter “10” for Bias Factor.
9. LMB the top edge of the rectangle, then RMB-Insert-Sizing. Enter “.2”m for Element Size. Choose
the first Bias Type from the drop down menu. Enter “50” for Bias Factor.
10. LMB the bottom edge of the rectangle, then RMB-Insert-Sizing. Enter “.2”m for Element Size.
Choose the first Bias Type from the drop down menu. Enter “50” for Bias Factor.
11. In Outline, RMB on the third “Fluid” under Part and Unsuppress All Bodies. RMB on the third
“Fluid” and Suppress All Other Bodies.
12. LMB “Mesh” from Outline. Make sure Edge is the current selection filter.
13. LMB the left edge of the rectangle, then RMB-Insert-Sizing. Enter “.2”m for Element Size.
14. LMB the right edge of the rectangle, then RMB-Insert-Sizing. Enter “.2”m for Element Size. Choose
the first Bias Type from the drop down menu. Enter “10” for Bias Factor.
15. LMB the top edge of the rectangle, then RMB-Insert-Sizing. Enter “.2”m for Element Size. Choose
the second Bias Type from the drop down menu. Enter “50” for Bias Factor.

16. In Outline, RMB on the fourth “Fluid” under Part and Unsuppress All Bodies.
17. LMB “Mesh” from Outline. Make sure Edge is the current selection filter.
18. LMB the horizontal edge between the two pie-shaped faces. RMB-Insert-Sizing. Enter “.2”m for
Element Size. Choose the second Bias Type from the drop down menu. Enter “50” for Bias Factor.

19. LMB “Mesh” from Outline. In Details of “Mesh”.

LMB on the “+” next to “Sizing”. Change Min Size
to “.00001”m.

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Create mesh
1. R-Mesh- Generate Mesh.
2. When completed, the mesh should look like the one to the right.
3. Zoom in and pan to view the mesh around the airfoil.
4. File-Save Project. Close ANSYS Meshing and return to ANSYS
Workbench.

Update mesh and launch FLUENT

5. In the Project Schematic of ANSYS Workbench, R-Mesh from
the analysis template, then Update. A check mark should now
appear to the right of both Geometry and Mesh.
6. Setup from the Project Schematic to open FLUENT Launcher. In
FLUENT Launcher, verify that the box next to “Double Precision” is
selected, then OK.
If the box next to “Double Precision” is not checked, LMB in the box
to select it before clicking OK.
Some older software versions may give an error. If you get an error,
close ANSYS Workbench, reopen it, and repeat Step 2.
7. The next screen will be the main FLUENT Window with your mesh in the Graphics Window.

Set solver model

1. In the main FLUENT menu, Define-Models-Viscous - Laminar-Edit.
Laminar flow is the default, so we really don't need to do anything
here. Later on, however, you may need to specify turbulent flow
calculations; this is where the turbulence models are specified in
FLUENT, options of which are shown to the right. OK.

Define the fluid as liquid water

1. The default fluid is air, but we want to define the fluid as water. In the
main FLUENT menu, Define-Materials-Create/Edit-FLUENT
Database. Select water-liquid from the list of FLUENT Database Materials. Copy.
2. Write down the density and viscosity of liquid water. These properties are needed later to calculate
Reynolds numbers, etc. Close.
3. Close the Create/Edit Materials window. Caution: This has added liquid water into the list of
available fluids, but has not actually changed the fluid from air to water. This will be done next.

Define the cell zones and boundary conditions

1. In the main FLUENT menu, Define-Cell Zone Conditions. There should be only one zone, “part-
fluid”. Make sure Type is set as fluid. Edit. Select “water-liquid” instead of “air” as the material.
OK.
2. Now the boundary conditions need to be specified. Previously, the boundary
conditions were named, e.g., inlet, symmetry, etc., but actual values for inlet
velocity, etc. were never defined. This must be done in FLUENT. In the main
FLUENT menu, Define-Boundary Conditions.
3. The default boundary condition for the wall (airfoil surface) is okay, so nothing
needs to be done to it.
4. Likewise, the default boundary conditions for the symmetry planes and the outlet are okay, so
nothing needs to be done to them.
5. Select inlet. Edit. Select
“Magnitude and Direction” from
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 the drop down menu for Velocity Specification Method. Change Velocity Magnitude to “10” m/s,
and OK.

Set convergence criteria

1. In the main FLUENT menu, Solve-Monitors-Residuals…. Edit.
2. In the Residual Monitors window that opens, make sure both Plot and Print to Console options are
specified in the Options portion of the window.
Here, “Print” refers to text printed in the main FLUENT window, and “Plot” graphs the
residuals on the screen while the code is iterating.
As the code iterates, residuals are calculated for each flow equation. Residuals represent a kind
of average error in the solution – the smaller the residual, the more converged the solution.
3. Since there are four differential equations to be solved in a three-D incompressible laminar flow
problem, there are four residuals to be monitored for convergence: continuity, x-velocity, y-velocity,
and z-velocity. The default convergence criteria are 0.001 for all four of these. Experience has
shown that this value is generally not low enough for proper convergence. Change the Convergence
Criterion for all three residuals from 0.001 to 0.000001 (enter three additional zeroes).
4. To apply the changes, OK.
5. In the main FLUENT menu, Solve-Initialization. The default initial values of velocity and gage
pressure are all zero. These are good enough for this problem. Initialize.
6. File-Save Project.
Fluent writes two files in addition to the Workbench file: the case file (the grid plus all
boundary conditions and other specified parameters) and the data file (the velocity and pressure
fields calculated by the code).
Iterate towards a solution
1. In the main FLUENT menu, Solve-Run Calculation to open up the Run Calculation sub-window.
Change Number of Iterations to 200, and Calculate. The main screen will list the residuals after
every iteration, while the graphical display window will plot the residuals as a function of iteration
number.
The residuals may rise at first, but should slowly start to fall. It is normal for the residuals to
fluctuate up and down. Do not be concerned if there are reverse flow warnings; these will
disappear in time.
2. When the solution is done or converged, OK.
3. Check to see how the solution is progressing. In the main FLUENT menu, Display-Graphics and
Animations-Vectors-Set Up [the upper Set Up, not the lower one].
4. In the Vectors window that opens, select “interior-part-fluid” under Surfaces. Display. Velocity
vectors will be displayed.
5. Go get a better view of the vector field, rotate the
vector field by LMB while dragging the cursor.
6. Zoom in on the airfoil to view the velocity field in
more detail. It should look similar to the velocity
field to the right. Close the Vectors window.
To zoom in, drag a box with the MMB from the lower left to upper right.
To zoom out, drag a box with the MMB from the upper right to the lower left.
7. The current mesh is sufficient for 200 iterations and initial calculations, but the mesh must be
refined before iterating further.

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Refine the mesh and iterate some more
1. Our mesh is not tight enough near the airfoil surface to properly resolve the boundary layer.
Fortunately, FLUENT has a feature that automatically adds grid points where needed for better
resolution. There are several options for
grid adaptation – we will adapt by
velocity gradient.
2. In the main FLUENT menu, Adapt-
Gradient. In the new Gradient
Adaption window, select Gradients of
Velocity.
3. Compute. Minimum and maximum
velocity gradients will appear in the
window.
4. As a good rule of thumb, set the Refine
Threshold to about 1/10 of the
maximum gradient. Enter this value in
the appropriate text box.
5. Mark. The main FLUENT window will display how many cells have been selected for refining and
coarsening.
The coarsening cells can be ignored since FLUENT is unable to coarsen the original grid – it
can only refine the original grid.
6. Optional: If you want to see where the grid will be adapted, click Manage-Display. Areas destined
for grid refinement will be highlighted.
7. Back in the Gradient Adaption window, Adapt-Yes. The main FLUENT window will display some
information about the grid adaptation.
8. The Gradient Adaption window can be closed at this point.
9. Solve-Run Calculation from the main FLUENT menu to re-open the Run Calculation sub-window.
Change Number of Iterations to 500, and Calculate-OK.
10. When the solution is done or converged, OK.
11. Check to see how the solution is progressing. In the main FLUENT menu, Display-Graphics and
Animations-Vectors-Set Up-Display. The graphical display window will show velocity vectors. The
vectors should be closer together in regions where the mesh was refined.
12. Close the Vectors window.
13. Zoom in (MMB lower left to upper right) or out (MMB upper right to lower left) and move (MMB
where you want to center the view) as necessary to see the velocity field.

Iterate towards a final solution

1. Following the procedure outlined previously in the section called “Refine the mesh and iterate
some more”, refine the grid and re-iterate as necessary (three times) to obtain a final solution. Each
time you adapt the grid, you must re-calculate the gradients (Compute), re-adjust the refine
threshold (set to about 1/10 of the maximum gradient), Mark, Adapt-Yes.
2. Calculate at least 400 iterations after each grid adaption. The residuals will rise dramatically after an
adaption, but will decay as the solution adjusts itself to the newly refined grid.
Caution: Don't adapt too much, or the computations will take too much CPU time. Note that
every time you refine the grid, the computer must calculate the flow field at more grid points,
requiring longer for successive iterations.
3. When finished adapting, run several hundred iterations until the residuals level off, or until the
convergence criteria are reached.

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Examine the velocity profiles in detail
1. The velocity profile at three locations (x = 0.00, 0.05, and 0.20 m) will be plotted and examined in
detail.
2. In the main FLUENT window, on the left side under Results,
Plots-XY Plot-Set Up.
3. A window called Solution XY Plot will open. LMB the drop
down menu beside New Surface and select Line/Rake…
4. To create the first profile, set x0 = 0, y0 = 0, z0 = 0 and x1 = 0, y1
= 0.5, z1 = 0. Rename the surface “profile0.0” in the New
Surface Name text box. Create.
5. To create the second profile, set x0 = 0.05, y0 = 0, z0 = 0 and x1
= 0.05, y1 = 0.5, z1 = 0. Rename the surface “profile0.05” in the
New Surface Name text box. Create.
6. To create the third profile, set x0 = 0.2, y0 = 0, z0 = 0 and x1 =
0.2, y1 = 0.5, z1 = 0. Rename the surface “profile0.2” in the New
Surface Name text box. Create.
7. Close the Line/Rake Surface window.
8. Back in the Solution XY Plot window, select (highlight) profile0.00, profile0.05, and profile0.20.
9. In the upper left corner of the window, turn
off (uncheck) Position on X Axis, and turn
on (check) Position on Y Axis. This will
make the vertical axis the y position on the
plot.
10. Set Plot Direction to X = 0 and Y = 1. This
will make the y-coordinate position appear
on the vertical axis, as desired for a
standard velocity profile plot.
11. The upper right part of the window selects
the variable to be plotted. The Y Axis
Function will be set automatically to
Direction Vector, and should be left alone.
For the X Axis Function, select Velocity
and (just below that) X-Velocity. Plot.
12. If done correctly, all three profiles should be visible on the plot and should look like the profile to
the right. The initial
increase in x-velocity
with downstream
position on the airfoil
should be apparent.
Notice how as the
position above the
horizontal axis
increases (vertical
axis), the velocity
approaches the free
stream velocity of 10
m/s regardless of the position along the airfoil.
13. Close the Solution XY Plot window.

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Save your velocity profiles and your calculations
1. In the main FLUENT menu, File-Export-Case & Data. In the Select File window that opens, name
the file with an extension “.cas.gz”. Make sure the Write Binary Files option is checked. OK to
write the file. You might have to OK again to overwrite these files if they already exist.
The “.gz” at the end of the file name causes FLUENT to save the file in a condensed or
“zipped” format, which saves disk space.
2. Before saving the plot, your name and a short description should be added to the title. On the
graphics window where the plot is visible, LMB just below the existing plot title (“X Velocity”) in
the bottom left of the plot. A cursor should appear. Type your name(s) on the plot title.
On some operating systems, you may have to RMB instead of LMB to get the text cursor.
3. In the main FLUENT menu, File-Save Picture. Select TIFF. Select Color if desired, and Save. Give
a unique, descriptive name to the file (something with your name in it, like
“laminar_airfoil_profiles_Lastname_Firstname.tif” is appropriate). OK, and Close. The .tif file just
generated can be inserted into a Microsoft Word document later.
Exit FLUENT
1. In the main FLUENT menu, File-Save Project.
2. Exit FLUENT by File-Close FLUENT. Make sure the option to store
the results is turned on. OK. This will return you to Workbench.
3. In Workbench, Update Project. After some calculations, check
marks should appear on all components of the Fluid Flow (FLUENT)
template in Project Schematic.
4. You are now finished with this tutorial. File-Exit-Yes (save the file).

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