CFD Analysis of Engines: An Advanced Approach Based on Codes Dynamically Coupled

An advanced approach to evaluate the gas flow in internal combustion engines has been carried out. It is based on an interactive procedure which dynamically couples one-dimensional (1D) and three dimensional (3D) computational fluid dynamics codes. Direct feedback between the codes has been assured allowing 3D fluid flow effects to be fed back into the 1D system. A cycle-by-cycle convergence of results in the data exchange sections has been guaranteed. The capability of describing physical phenomena increases and some numerical problems, as the reflection of pressure waves on the 3D grid boundaries, can be avoided. The procedure has been applied to a simple test case and to a typical engine application where 3D effects are not negligible: flow field definition within an air box for race cars. The procedure has proven effective and could be easily adapted for further different applications.