Numerical solution for two-dimensional flow in a branching channel using boundary-fitted coordinates (Q581135)

A numerical method is presented for the two-dimensional flow of a viscous, incompressible fluid in a branching channel. The problem has previously been solved by the first author and \textit{S. C. R. Dennis} [(*) ibid. 12, 339-355 (1984; Zbl 0569.76041)] for restricted values of the branching angle and relative channel widths. Here a curvilinear coordinate generation algorithm is used to map the solution region onto a rectangle and this permits a solution over unrestricted ranges of branching angle and channel widths. The Navier-Stokes equations are solved in terms of stream function and vorticity using a difference scheme proposed by \textit{S. C. R. Dennis} and \textit{J. D. Hudson} [Numerical methods in laminar and turbulent flow, Proc. 1st Int. Conf., London, 69 ff. (1978)]. Results are presented showing the effects on fluid separation of variations in Reynolds number, branching angle and relative channel widths upstream and downstream. Comparison is made with (*).