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CFD Simulation Projects by ANSYS Fluent — Ep 04
Bridge Pillars External Two-Phase Flow CFD Simulation with Ansys Fluent
- Episode
- 04
- Run Time
- 28m 41s
- Published
- Apr 06, 2025
- Course Progress
- 0%
About This Episode
Overview of Bridge Pillars External Two-Phase Flow CFD Simulation
Project Description
Focussing on the interplay between air and water around the structures using ANSYS Fluent, this work looks at how fluid flow affects bridge pillars. The study draws attention to issues including scouring, which compromises bridge foundations.
Model Design
The geometry consists of two bridge columns orientated in the flow direction to examine their interaction. Designed in ANSYS Design Modeller, it is meshed using 415,860 components using ANSYS Meshing.
Methodology
- Two-Phase Flow: Modelled utilising the Volume of Fluid (VOF) method, air being the first phase and water the second.
- Turbulence: Modelled using conventional wall functions using the RNG k-epsilon approach.
- Solver: Considering gravitational effects, pressure-based, steady-state.
Conclusion
The simulation produces volume fractions for water and air, streamlines, velocity, and pressure contours. Among the main findings are:
- Around columns, water creates vortices and eddies, hence increasing turbulence.
- Air over pillars forms a boundary layer.
- Interaction between air and water creates a mixing layer that helps to create turbulence close to pillars.