Solution Algorithms for

Pressure-Velocity Coupling
in Steady Flows

DEPARTMENT OF APPLIED MECHANICS

MOTI LAL NEHRU NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
ALLAHABAD
1
 Velocity not known
In this lecture, we look at the most popular
strategies for computing the entire flow field.

Transport equation for each velocity

component-momentum equations can be derived
from the general transport equation by
replacing the variable by u, v and w
respectively.

Considering the governing equation for 2D

laminar steady flow:
x-momentum equation
u u p
uu uv Su ......(1)
x y x x y y x
y-momentum equation
v v p
uv vv Sv .....(2)
x y x x y y y

continuity equation

u v 0 ........(3)
x y
 The pressure gradient term, which forms the main
momentum source term in most flows of engineering
problems.

The solution of equation 1 to 3 give us with two new

problems

(1) The convective terms of the momentum equations

contain non-linear quantities, like uu .
x
(2) All three equations are intricately coupled because
every velocity component appears in each
momentum equation and in the continuity equation.
The most complex issue to resolve is the role
played by the pressure.
CASE 1: the pressure gradient is known
the process of obtaining discretised equations for velocities
from momentum equations is exactly the same as that for
any other scalar and the schemes explained in previous
chapter.
CASE 2: The pressure is unknown
For compressible flow:
The momentum equations is transport equation for u and v,
continuity equation for density, the energy equation for
temperature and state equation p = p(, T) for pressure
For incompressible flow:
The density is constant and hence not linked to the pressure.
In this case coupling between pressure and velocity
introduces a constraint in the solution of the flow field. i.e.,
if the correct pressure field is applied in the momentum
equations, the resulting velocity field should satisfy
continuity.
 Checkered Board Pressure Field
The FVM starts, as always with the discretisation
of the flow domain and of the relevant transport
equations 1 to 3.
A simple two dimensional situation (of a
checker-board pressure field) is shown in figure
below where a uniform grid is used for simplicity.
If the pressure at e and w are obtained by linear
interpolation the pressure gradient term p
x
in the u-momentum equation is given by
pE pP pP pW

p pe pw 2 2

x x x


p pE pW

x 2 x

Similarly v-momentum equation

p pN pS

y 2 y
Staggered Grid: The arrangement for a two dimensional flow
calculation is shown in fig.
 The scalar variables, including pressure, are
stored at the nodes marked ().
The velocities are defined at the (scalar) cell faces
in between the nodes and are indicated by arrows.
for u-velocity
for v-velocity
In the staggered grid arrangement, the pressure
nodes coincide with the cell faces of the u-control
volume, the pressure gradient terms is given by
without interpolation for cell face values
p pP pW p pP pS

x xu y yv
 Advantage of Staggered Grid Arrangenent

(1) the staggering of the velocity avoids the

unrealistic behaviour of discretised momentum
equation for spatially oscillating pressure like the
checker-board field.
(2) the staggered grid arrangement is that it
generate velocities at exactly the locations where
they are required for the scalar transport
convection-diffusion-computations. Hence no
interpolation is needed to calculate velocities at
the scalar cell faces.
 Momentum Equations
Expressed in a new co-ordinate system the
discretised u-momentum equation for the velocity
at location (i, J) is given by:
pI , J pI 1, J
ai , J ui , J anb unb Vu S Vu
xu
or
ai , J ui , J anb unb pI 1, J pI , j Ai , J bi , J ....(4)
In the new numbering system, the E, W, N and S
neighbours involved in the summation anbunb
are (i-1, J), (i+1, J), (i, J-1) and (i, J+1).
Their locations and prevailing velocities are
shown in more details in the next figure.
Fig. u-control volume and its neighbour velocity
components
Applying the new notation system we give the
values of F and D for each of the faces e, w, n
and s of the u-control volume:
Fi, J Fi 1, J
Fw u w
2
1
I , J I 1, J ui , J I 1, J I 2, J ui 1, J .........(5a)
2 2 2
Fi 1, J Fi , J
Fe u e
2
1 I 1, J I , J I , J I 1, J
ui 1, J ui , J ......(5b)
2 2 2
FI , j FI 1, j
Fs v s
2
1 I , J 1 I 1, J I 1, J 1
I , J
I, j
v I 1, j ........(5c)
v
2 2 2
 FI , j 1 FI 1, j 1
Fn v n
2
1 I , J 1 I , J I 1, J 1 I 1, J
vI , j 1 vI 1, j 1 ........(5d )
2 2 2
I 1, J
Dw .....(5e)
xi xi 1
I ,J
De ......(5 f )
xi 1 xi
I 1, J I , J I 1, J 1 I , J 1
Ds ......(5 g )
4( yJ yJ 1 )
I 1, J 1 I , J 1 I 1, J I , J
Dn ......(5h)
4( yJ 1 yJ )
The formulae (Eqs. 2a to 2h) show that where
scalar variables or velocity components are not
available at a u-control volume cell face, a
suitable two or four-point average is formed over
the nearest points where values are available.
 During each iteration the u- and v-velocity
components used to evaluate the above
expressions are those obtained as the outcome
of the previous iteration (or the initial guess in
the first iteration).
It should be noted that these known u- and v-
values contribute to the coefficients a in
equation (2). These are distinct from ui,J and
unb in this equation, which denote the
unknown scalars.
ai , J ui , J anbunb pI 1, J pI , j Ai , J bi , J ...(4)
Similarly for v-momentum equation:
aI , j vI , j anb vnb pI , J 1 pI , J AI , j bI , j ......(6)
Applying the new notation system we give the
values of F and D for each of the faces e, w, n
and s of the u-control volume:
Fi , J Fi , J 1
Fw u w
2
1
I , J I 1, J ui , J I 1, J 1 I , J 1 ui , J 1 .........(7a)
2 2 2
Fi 1, J Fi 1, J 1
Fe u e
2
1 I 1, J I , J I , J 1 I 1, J 1
ui 1, J ui 1, J 1 ......(7b)
2 2 2
FI , j 1 FI , j
Fs v s
2
1 I , J 1
I , J 1 I , J 2 vI , j 1 I , J vI , j ........(7c)
2 2 2
 FI , j FI , j 1
Fn v n
2
1 I , J I , J 1 I , J 1 I , J
vI , j vI , j 1 ........(7d )
2 2 2
I 1, J 1 I , J 1 I 1, J I , J
Dw .....(7e)
4 xI xI 1
I , J 1 I 1, J 1 I , J I 1, J
De ......(7 f )
4 xI 1 xI
I , J 1
Ds ......(7 g )
y j y j 1
I ,J
Dn ......(7h)
y j 1 y j
 Given a pressure field p, discretised
momentum equations of the form (4) and (6)
can be written for each u- and v-control
volume and then solved to obtain the velocity
fields.
If the pressure field is correct, the resulting
velocity field will satisfy continuity.
If the pressure field is unknown, we need a
method for calculating correct pressure.
The available methods are: SIMPLE,
SIMPLER, SIMPLEC and PISO.
 SIMPLE Algorithm (Iterative)
1. Guess pressure field
2. Guess velocity component
3. Compute convective fluxes per unit mass
through cell faces.
4. Solve momentum equation
5. Obtain pressure correction from continuity
equation.
6. Update pressure and velocity fields
7. Check for convergence
8. If not converged, go to step 3, else report
results
 SIMPLE Algorithm
The SIMPLE stands for Semi-Implicit Method for
Pressure Linked Equations.
It is essentially a guess-and-correct procedure for
the calculation of pressure on staggered grid
arrangement introduced above.
To initiate the SIMPLE calculation process a
pressure field p is guessed.
Discretised momentum equations (4) and (6)
ai , J ui , J anbunb pI 1, J pI , J Ai , J bi , J ...(4)
aI , j vI , j anb vnb pI , J 1 pI , J AI , j bI , j ......(6)

are solved using the guessed pressure field to yield

velocity components u and v as follows
ai , J u *i , J anbu *nb p*I 1, J p*I , J Ai. J bi , J ......(12)

aI , j v* I , j anb v*nb p* I , J 1 p* I , J AI . j bI , j ...(13)

Now we define the correction p as the difference
between correct pressure field p and the guessed
pressure field p , so
p p* p ' ....(14)

Similarly for velocity

u u u ......(15)
* '

v v v ......(16)
* '
Substitution of the correct pressure field p into the
momentum equation yields the correct velocity
field (u, v). Discretised equations (4) link the
correct pressure field.
ai , J ui , J anbunb pI 1, J pI , J Ai , J bi , J ...(4)
ai , J u *i , J anbu *nb p*I 1, J p*I , J Ai. J bi , J ......(12)

Subtraction of equations (12) from (4) gives

ai , J ui , J u*i , J anb unb u*nb pI 1, J p*I 1, J pI , J p*I , J Ai , J .....(17)

Using correction formulae (14) and (15) the

equations (17) may be written as follows
ai , J u 'i , J anbu 'nb p ' I 1, J p ' I , J Ai , J .....(19)
Similarly, discretised equations (6) link the correct
pressure field.
aI , j vI , j anb vnb pI , J 1 pI , J AI , j bI , j ......(6)
aI , j v* I , j anb v*nb p* I , J 1 p* I , J AI . j bI , j ...(13)

Subtraction of equations (13) from (6) gives

a v v a v v p
I, j I, j
*
I, j nb p p p A ......(18)
nb
*
nb I , J 1
*
I , J 1 I ,J
*
I ,J I, j

Using correction formulae (14) and (16) the

equations (18) may be written as follows
aI , j v ' I , j anb v 'nb p ' I , J 1 p ' I , J AI , j ........(20)
 ai , J u 'i , J anbu 'nb p ' I 1, J p ' I , J Ai , J .....(19)

aI , j v ' I , j anb v 'nb p ' I , J 1 p ' I , J AI , j ........(20)

At this point an approximation is introduced: anbu nb '

and a v '
nb nb are dropped to simplify equation (19)

and (20) for the velocity corrections. Omission of

these terms is main approximation of the SIMPLE
algorithm. We obtain
u 'i , J di , J p ' I 1, J p ' I , J ......(21)
v ' I , j d I , j p ' I , J 1 p ' I , J ....(22)

Ai , J AI , j
where di , J and d I , j .......(23)
ai , J aI , j
Equation (21) and (22) describe the correction to
be applied to velocities through formulae (15)
and (16), which gives
ui , J u*i , J di , J p ' I 1, J p ' I , J ...(24)
vI , j v*I , j d I , j p ' I , J 1 p ' I , J .....(25)

Similar expression exists for ui+1, j and uI, j+1

ui 1, J u*i 1, J di 1, J p ' I , J p ' I 1, J .....(26)

vI , j 1 v I , j 1 d I , j 1 p I , J p I , J 1 .......(27)
* ' '
where Ai 1, J AI , j 1
di 1, J and d I , j 1 .......(28)
ai 1, J aI , j 1
Continuity is satisfied in discretised form for the
scalar control volume shown in following fig.
uA uA vA uA 0 .......(29)
i 1, J i,J I , j 1 I, j
 Substitution of the corrected velocities (24)-(27)
into discretised continuity equation(29) gives

[ i 1, J Ai 1, J u*i 1, J di 1, J p'I , J p'I 1, J i, J Ai, J u*i, J di, J p'I 1, J p'I , J ]
[ I , j 1 AI , j 1 v *
I , j 1 d I , j 1 I , J
p '
p '
I , J 1 A v
I, j I, j
*
I, j d I , j I , J 1
p '
p '
I ,J ] 0 .......(30)

This may be rearranged as give

dA dA dA dA p '

i 1, J i , J I , j 1 I , j I , J

i1, J I 1, J i, J I 1, J I , j 1 I , J 1 I , j I , J 1
dA p '
dA p '
dA p '
dA p '

u* A u* A v* A v* A ............(31)
i,J i 1, J I, j I , j 1
 Identifying the coefficients of p, this may be written
as
aI , J p I , J aI 1, J p I 1, J aI 1, J p I 1, J aI ,J 1 p I , J 1 aI ,J 1 p I , J 1 b I , J ..(32)
' ' ' ' ' '

where aI , J aI 1, J aI 1, J aI , J 1 aI , J 1

and the coefficients are given below:

aI 1, J aI 1, J aI , J 1 a I , J 1 b' I , J

dAi1, J dA i,J dAI , j 1 dA I , j u A u A

*
i,J
*
i 1, J
v * A v* A
I, j I , j 1
Equation (32) represents the discretised continuity
equation as an equation for pressure correction p.

Under Relaxation Factor:

The pressure correction equation is susceptible to
divergence unless some under-relaxation is during
the iterative process, and new, improved pressure
pnew are obtained with
pnew p* p p' .......(33)

p is the pressure under relaxation factor.

The velocities are also under relaxed. The
iteratively improved velocity components unew
and vnew are obtained from
u new
uu 1 u u n1
......(34)
v new
v v 1 v v n 1
......(35)
After some algebra, it can be shown that with
under relaxation the discretised u-momentum
and v-momentum equation takes the form
ai , J ai , J ( n1)
ui , J anbunb pI 1, J pI , J Ai , J bi , J 1 u ui , J ....(36)
u u
ai , j aI , j ( n1)
vI , j anb vnb pI , J 1 pI , J AI , j bI , j 1 v vI , j ......(37)
v v
The d-terms of the pressure correction terms
become
Ai , J u Ai 1, J u AI , j v AI , j 1 v
di , J , di 1, J , dI , j , d I , j 1
ai , J ai 1, J aI , j aI , j 1
Assembly of a Complete Method
 SIMPLER (SIMPLE Revised)

In this algorithm the discretised continuity

equation for pressure, instead of pressure
correction equation as in SIMPLE. Thus the
intermediate pressure field is obtained directly
without the use of a correction. However,
velocities are still obtained through the velocity
corrections (24) and (27) of SIMPLE.
The discretised momentum equation (12) and (13)
are rearranged as
 anbunb bi , J Ai , J
ui , J
ai , J

ai , J
p I 1, J pI , J .....(38)

anb vnb bI , j AI , j
vI , J
aI , j

aI , j
p I , J 1 pI , J .......(39)

In the SIMPLER algorithm pseudo-velocities u and v
are now defined as follows
anbunb bi , J
ui , J ......(40)
ai , J

anb vnb bI , j
vI , j ........(41)
aI , j
Now equation (38) and (39) can be rearranged as
ui , J ui , J di , J pI 1, J pI , J ....(42)

vI , j vI , j d I , j pI , J 1 pI , J .....(43)

Substituting for ui,J and vI,j from these equations into

the discretised continuity equation (29), using
similar forms for ui+1,J and vI,j+1 results in

A u d p p A u d p p
i 1, J i 1, J i 1, J i 1, J I , J I 1, J i,J i,J i,J i,J I 1, JI ,J
i,J

I , J 1 AI , j 1
v
I , j 1 d I , j 1 pI , J pI , J 1 I, j
AI , j vI , j d I , j pI , J 1 pI , J 0 .....(44)

 Equation (44) may be rearranged to give a discretised
pressure equation
aI , J pI , J aI 1, J pI 1, J aI 1, J pI 1, J aI , J 1 pI , J 1 aI , J 1 pI , J 1 bI , J ..(45)

where, aI ,J aI 1,J aI 1, J aI , J 1 aI , J 1
and the coefficients are given below:
Flow chart
 SIMPLEC (SIMPLE Consistent)
This algorithm follows the same steps as the
SIMPLE algorithm, with the difference that the
momentum equations are manipulated so that the
SIMPLEC velocity correction equation omit
terms that are less significant than those in
SIMPLE.
The u-velocity correction equation of SIMPLEC
is given by
ui, J di , J p I , J 1 p I , J ......(46)
' '

Ai , J
where di , J ......(47)
ai, J anb
Similarly the modified v-velocity correction
equation is
vI , j d I , j p ' I , J 1 p ' I , J ....(48)

AI , j
where dI , j .....(49)
aI , j anb

The discretised pressure correction equation is

same as in SIMPLE, except that d-terms are
calculated from equations (47) and (48).
 PISO Algorithm

Pressure Implicit with Splitting of Operators, of

Issa (1986)
PISO involves one predictor step and two
corrector steps and may be seen as an extension
of SIMPLE, with a further corrector step to
enhance it.