Y+ for Boundary Layer Resolution

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Y-plus: Estimation of first layer height near wall

Estimate height of the 1^st layer height of the mesh as per recommended y⁺ value of the chosen solver, a better guess than choosing an arbitrary value.

Y-plus

Here is Excel version: Y-Plus and Boundary Layer Height Estimation using Excel. The default values have been specified to avoid arithmetic errors. Please ensure you specify all the values as per the operating conditions chosen in simulation. The default value of y⁺ is set = 30, appropriate for most high-Re turbulence models. In case a low-Re turbulence model such as SST is being used, change this value to 1 or maximum 5.

Y+Plus Profile

Select the type of geometry:	-
Select the working fluid:	[ - ]
Select mode of specifying velocity scale:	[ - ]
Specify velocity scale:	[m/s] or [m³/s] or [kg/s]
Specify cross-section area - ignored if velocity is specified:	[m²]
Select solver type: 1=Vertex-based (CFX), 2=Cell-centre based (Fluent):	[ - ]
Specify length scale of flow - hyd. dia. (Ducts) or length of the (Flat) plate:	[m]
Specify working temperature of the fluid:	[°C]
Specify 'absolute' working pressure (required in case of air only):	[bar]
Specify desired mean value of y⁺:	[ - ]
-

The calculations are based on empirical correlations and may still require iterations to meet Y⁺ requirements
The calculation is based on fully-developed regime. In developing regime, coarse mesh is required and hence the estimated mesh height will hold true for developing region also.
The calculation is applicable to TURBULENT flows only
The material properties (viscosity and density) are calculated based on specified fluid (currently available for air and water only) and its temperature.
The mesh requirements are different for vertex-based formulations (CFX) and cell-centred formulations (Fluent & STAR CCM+)
- For identical mesh, boundary conditions and material properties, CFX will result in Y⁺ value approx. twice of that in Fluent, if Y⁺ ≥ 30 everywhere
- If Y⁺ of flow results in a range 10 ~ 30, the value reported in CFX will not be closer to twice that reported in Fluent. This is because of "scalable" formulation in CFX.
For 2D geometries, a thickness of 1.0 [m] is assumed to estimate velocity from specified volumetric or mass flow

The steps required to estimate the first layer height is described below:

Calculation steps for Y-plus

In order to demonstrate the effect of the cell-based and vertex-based scheme, simulations were performed using same mesh, material properties, solver and boundary conditions. The area-averaged value of Y-plus matched the observations described above. The mesh used is shown below.

The diameter is 100 [mm] and
the 1st layer height used in CFD simulation is 1.0 [mm]

Mesh for Pipe Flow - Section

Mesh for Pipe Flow - Wall

The material properties used in CFX and Fluent are described below.

Material properties in CFX

Material properties in Fluent

The turbulence model used was:

Turb. Model in CFX

Turb. Model in Fluent

The boundary conditions at inlet and outlet are shown below.

Inlet Boundary in CFX

Outlet Boundary in CFX

Inlet Boundary in Fluent

Outlet Boundary in Fluent

A good level of convergence was achieved:

Convergence in CFX

Convergence in Fluent

Conclusion:

The contour plots for the Y-plus are shown below. Based on the flow conditions and material properties, following are derived parameters:

Reynolds number = 65833
friction factor = 0.0197
friction velocity = 0.496 [m/s]
boundary layer height for Y+ = 30 is 0.92 [mm].
The reported value in CFX with uniform velocity inlet is 33.2.
The reported value in CFX with uniform velocity inlet is 16.9, which is approximately half of the CFX as expected .
The reported value in CFX with 7th power velocity profile at inlet is 24.2.
The Y+ value tend to be higher in the developing region. Hence, Y+ value in flow with uniform velocity inlet is higher than that with velocity profile with power law typically observed in turbulent duct flows.

Y-plus value in CFX

Y-plus value in Fluent

Contour of Y-plus in Fluent

The calculation was repeated in CFX using velocity profile specified by exponential function V₀*[1-(r/R)⁷] keeping all other parameters constant. The reported value of Y-plus has reduced from 33.2 to 24.2.

Y-plus value in CFX

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