# The SIMPLE Algorithm

(Difference between revisions)
 Revision as of 04:42, 7 April 2010 (view source)← Older edit Revision as of 16:16, 2 June 2010 (view source)Newer edit → Line 1: Line 1: + [itex]\begin{matrix} + {}  \\ + \end{matrix} The above approach for the solution of the incompressible flow field was named SIMPLE, which stands for Semi-Implicit Method for Pressure-Linked Equations. It was originally proposed by Patankar and Spalding (1972) and summarized in Patankar (1980). This algorithm is a semi-implicit method because the first terms on the right-hand side of eqs. (4.300) – (4.302) are neglected. If these terms are retained, we will have to solve for the velocity corrections ( ) for the entire flow field simultaneously and the algorithm will become fully-implicit. The procedure for SIMPLE algorithm can be summarized as following:
The above approach for the solution of the incompressible flow field was named SIMPLE, which stands for Semi-Implicit Method for Pressure-Linked Equations. It was originally proposed by Patankar and Spalding (1972) and summarized in Patankar (1980). This algorithm is a semi-implicit method because the first terms on the right-hand side of eqs. (4.300) – (4.302) are neglected. If these terms are retained, we will have to solve for the velocity corrections ( ) for the entire flow field simultaneously and the algorithm will become fully-implicit. The procedure for SIMPLE algorithm can be summarized as following:
1. Guess a pressure field, p*.
1. Guess a pressure field, p*.

## Revision as of 16:16, 2 June 2010

$\begin{matrix} {} \\ \end{matrix} The above approach for the solution of the incompressible flow field was named SIMPLE, which stands for Semi-Implicit Method for Pressure-Linked Equations. It was originally proposed by Patankar and Spalding (1972) and summarized in Patankar (1980). This algorithm is a semi-implicit method because the first terms on the right-hand side of eqs. (4.300) – (4.302) are neglected. If these terms are retained, we will have to solve for the velocity corrections ( ) for the entire flow field simultaneously and the algorithm will become fully-implicit. The procedure for SIMPLE algorithm can be summarized as following:
1. Guess a pressure field, p*.
2. Obtain the starred velocity field, (u*, v*, and w*) from eqs. (4.295) – (4.297).
3. Solve the pressure correction equation (4.309) to get .
4. Obtain a new pressure field from eq. (4.298).
5. Improve the velocity field using eqs. (4.305) – (4.307).
6. Obtain solutions for other ’s from eq. (4.274). If the flow field is not affected by a particular , it should be solved after a converged solution for flow field is obtained.
7. Treat the corrected pressure in Step 4 as a new starred pressure and go back to step 2. The iteration procedure is repeated until a converged solution is obtained.
Since the invention of the SIMPLE algorithm in 1972, it has evolved into the classic approach for computational fluid dynamics and heat transfer. Although there are several improved versions in the literature, SIMPLE still remains one of basic the most powerful algorithms. The objective of this section is to introduce the readers to the world of computational fluid dynamics and heat transfer without the overwhelming numerical details. Additional information can be found in the seminal books of Patankar (1980) and Tao (2001), as well as the Handbook of Numerical Heat Transfer (Minkowycz et al., 2006).$