- Author
- Torrance, K. E.
- Title
- Comparison of Finite-Difference Computations of Natural Convection.
- Coporate
- National Bureau of Standards, Washington, DC
- Journal
- Journal of Research/National Bureau of Standards. B. Mathematical Sciences, Vol. 72B, No. 4, 281-301, October/December 1968
- Keywords
- natural convection | enclosures | fluid flow | equations | vorticity | temperature field | heat transfer
- Identifiers
- finite-difference
- Abstract
- Five numerical methods were compared for calculating two-dimensional, transient natural convection in an enclosure. Both implicit and explicit procedures were considered. Requiements for numerical stability were derived from analysis and experience, and when satisfied, the calculated flows for all methods were found to be similar. Consideration was also given to the accuracy and (energy and voriticity) conservation of the methods. One method was found to be conservative and stable without a restriction on the spatial mesh increment. This method can be successfully applied to nonlinear flows, but care must be exercised due to the presence of truncation errors which introduce false transport mechanisms.