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Thorsten Hansen
ANSYS Continental Europe
Definitions
Error types:
Numerical errors
Model errors
System errors
User errors
Error estimation techniques
and procedures
Examples
Best Practice Guidelines
Summary and outlook
Round-off errors
Iteration errors
Difference between converged solution and solution
at iteration n
Solution errors
Difference between converged solution on current
grid and exact solution of model equations
Exact solution Solution on infinitely fine grid
Model errors
Difference between exact solution of model
equations and reality (data or analytic solution)
Siemens PG
Maximum residuals
Check for monotonic convergence
Iteration errors:
Relative error: Difference between
Isentropic Efficiency
Convergence criterion
Iteration Number
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Iteration Error Example
2D Compressor cascade
2nd order
Rmax = 1 10-3 Rmax = 1 10-4 Rmax = 1 10-5
aP f P = anb f nb + bP
nb
aP f Pn = anb f nbn + bP RP
nb
RP = anb f nbn + bP aP f Pn
nb
Ri = nb
a p f max f min K
ai f i n anb f nbn + bP Norms (over all grid points)
Maximum value
R%i = nb
Root-mean-square (rms)
m& in f in
....
K Caution: Different CFD
software different norms
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Iteration Error - Best Practice
eh = f h f ex
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Discretisation Error
Methods:
Comparison of results on different grids
Comparison of results with different discretization
schemes
Theory:
Roache, P. J., Verification and Validation in
Computational Science and Engineering, Hermosa
Publishers, 1998
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Discretisation Error Estimation
Taylor series
Discretisation scheme with 1st order truncation error:
f h2 2 f
f h = f ex + h + 2
+K
x ex 2 x ex
2
f h = f ex + hF + h G + K
2
f 2 h = f ex + 2hF + ( 2h ) G + K
F & G:
Derivatives of f
Evaluated at ex independent of grid width h
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Discretisation Error Estimation
Discretisation error: eh = f h f ex
f h f ex = hF + h 2G
f h f ex hF
eh f 2 h f h
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Discretisation Error Estimation
UPW UPW+HR
200
190
180
Nu_max
170
160
150
0 0.005 0.01 0.015 0.02
1/N
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Discretisation Error Estimation
Nu Error
Grid
Method 1 Method 2 Method 1 Method 2 Estim.
155.751 155.777
Advantages:
Can be applied to local and integral quantities
Error estimator can be used for extrapolation
Disadvantages:
Difficult to apply to 3-D problems: 100,000 800,000
6,400,000
Requires grids in asymptotic range
Requires truncation error order of discretization scheme
Practical alternative:
Compare solutions obtained with different discretization
schemes
UPW UPW+HR
200
190
180
Nu_max
170
160
150
0 0.005 0.01 0.015 0.02
1/N
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Discretisation Error Estimation
Nu Error
Grid
Method 1 Method 2 Method 1 Method 2 Diff.
155.751 155.777
2D Compressor cascade
Maximum residual = 1 10-4
Upwind High Resolution Blend Factor = 1
Upwind
High Resolution
Blend Factor = 1
Isentropic Mach Number
2D Compressor cascade
Maximum Residual = 1 10-4
2nd order
Grid 1 Grid 2 Grid 3
Grid 1
Grid 2
Grid 3
Isentropic Ma Number
Isentropic efficiency:
Grid Normalized tt
Grid 1 99.50 %
Grid 2 100 %
Grid 3 99.98 %
Computational
Grid 1 Grid 2 Grid 3
Grid
Scheme Normalized tt
Number of
220,000 840,000 3,300,000 UDS 93.67 %
elements
HR 100 %
Minimum grid
22 23 25
angle UDS+NAC 100.16 %
Inadequacies of (empirical)
mathematical models:
Base equations (Euler vs.
RANS, steady-state vs.
unsteady-state, )
Turbulence models
Combustion models
Multi-phase flow models
Model error: k-
250
Data
50 x 50
200 100 x 100
200 x 200
400 x 400
150 800 x 800
Nu, -
100
50
0
0,00 0,02 0,04 0,06 0,08 0,10 0,12 0,14
r, m
Tu Contour
Transition
Transition
Transition
1
0.9
0.8
0.7
Span Height
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3 Plane X0
Plane X1
0.2 Plane X2
Plane X0 EXP.
0.1 Plane X1 EXP.
Plane X2 EXP.
0
Absolute Swirl Angle, degree
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Uncertainties
Uncertainties:
Systematic variation of
uncertain parameters
Response surfaces
Quality Assurance
techniques applicable
Design of Experiments
(DOE)
Design for Six Sigma
ANSYS DesignXplorer
Probabilistic Safety
Analysis
2008 ANSYS, Inc. All rights reserved. 36 ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary
Best Practice Guidelines
Grid generation:
Scalable grids
Grid angles > 20 and < 160
(accuracy, convergence)
Aspect ratios < 100 on 32-bit
computers
Expansion ratios < 1.5 2
Capture physics based on
experience (shear layers,
shocks, leading, trailing
edges, )
Grid refinement:
Manual, based on error
estimate
Automatic adaptive based on
error sensor
Hexahedrons Tetrahedrons
Best element type RAM & CPU time per
node
Efficiency per node
1.5 hexahedrons
CPU time per node
Bad for shear layer or tip
Excellent for shear layers clearance resolution
No fully automatic grid (mesh quality)
generation Best element for
man-time effort larger automatic grid generation
than for unstructured and complex geometries
meshes
Iteration error:
Apply procedure outlined above
Discretisation error:
1st order schemes require very, very fine grids for most
applications
Start with 1st order scheme Switch to 2nd order scheme
Compare target variables for both schemes
Error estimation at little extra cost
Uncertainties:
Systematic variation of uncertain parameters (turbulence
boundary conditions, )
Determine influence on target variables
Future Statistical techniques: D46
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Summary