Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)

Navier-Stokes + Incompressible + Finite difference method

Discretization methods for approximating the Partial Differential Equations (PDEs):

  1. Finite Difference (FD) \checkmark
  2. Finite Elements (FE)
  3. Finite Volume (FV)

Finite Difference (FD)

Taylor’s polynomial

    \[f(x_0 + h) = f(x_0) + \frac{f'(x_0)}{1!}h + \frac{f^{(2)}(x_0)}{2!}h^2 + \cdots + \frac{f^{(n)}(x_0)}{n!}h^n + R_n(x) \]

    \[f'(a)\approx {f(a+h)-f(a)\over h}. \]

    \[f'(a)\approx{f(a+h)+f(a-h)-2f(h)\over \Delta h^2 \]

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Fluid Dynamics

Navier-Stokes Equation

\rho [kg/m^3] : fluid density

\mu  [Pa\cdot s] : dynamic viscosity

\nu [N/\rho=m^2/s] : kinematic viscosity

\vec{V}=(u,v,w) [m/s] : velocity

\forall : volume

Conservation of mass

  1. For a system:

        \[ \frac{d}{dt}M_{SYS}=0 \]

  2. For a C.V. (Reynolds transport theorem):\]

    \[\frac{\partial}{\partial t}\int_{CV}{\rho d\forall}+\int_{CS}{\rho \vec{V}\cdot \hat{n} dA}=0 \]

Differential form (\delta x\delta y\delta z):

    \[ \frac{\partial}{\partial t}\int_{CV}{\rho d\forall}=\frac{\rho}{\partial t} \delta x\delta y\delta z \]

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Space Elevator

Space Elevator theory and calculations

A space elevator is a proposed type of planet-to-space transportation system. The main component would be a cable (also called a tether) anchored to the surface and extending into space. The design would permit vehicles to travel along the cable from a planetary surface, such as the Earth’s, directly into space or orbit, without the use of large rockets. An Earth-based space elevator would consist of a cable with one end attached to the surface near the equator and the other end in space beyond geostationary orbit (35,786 km altitude). The competing forces of gravity, which is stronger at the lower end, and the outward/upward centrifugal force, which is stronger at the upper end, would result in the cable being held up, under tension, and stationary over a single position on Earth. With the tether deployed, climbers could repeatedly climb the tether to space by mechanical means, releasing their cargo to orbit. Climbers could also descend the tether to return cargo to the surface from orbit.

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