Vortex simulation of laminar recirculating flow (Q1085710)

The accuracy of the random vortex method, a numerical scheme that combines the representation of the vorticity field by a number of Lagrangian vortex elements of finite cores with a stochastic simulation of diffusion using random walk, is investigated. The converged solutions for a 2-dimensional entry flow in a channel and a recirculating flow behind a rearward-facing step, both in the laminar range of Reynolds numbers, are compared with analytical results and experimental data, respectively. It is shown that the computed results converge as the strength of computational vortex elements is decreased, and that the method is accurate to within the experimental errors. The convergence properties are used to devise a scheme for optimizing the choice of the numerical parameters.