NUMAP-FOAM Summer School 2023 and Our Collaboration with Prof. Hrvoje Jasak
In the realm of engineering and computational simulation, the pursuit of excellence is an unwavering commitment. Last month, Jayme, an engineer at ATS Aerothermal Solutions, had the honor of attending the prestigious NUMAP-FOAM Summer School 2023 in Cambridge, where a confluence of brilliant minds from across the globe gathered. However, this experience marked merely the inception of a groundbreaking collaboration.
Following the Summer School, Jayme continued this journey by engaging in direct collaboration with Professor Jasak at his London office. Together, they worked toward the development of the groundbreaking ATS Ice Accretion Tool.
Who is Professor Hrvoje Jasak?
Professor Hrvoje Jasak is a distinguished figure in the field of Scientific Computing, with a rich academic and industry background that reflects his profound contributions. He holds a first degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Zagreb and earned his Ph.D. in Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) from Imperial College London under the guidance of Prof. A.D. Gosman. His career journey includes senior roles as a Development Engineer at CD-adapco (now Siemens PLM), Technical Director at Nabla Ltd, and founder of Wikki.
Prof. Jasak is a Professor at the University of Cambridge and at the University of Zagreb and holds a Mercator Fellowship at TU Darmstadt, Germany. Notably, he is one of the original co-authors of OpenFOAM, a pioneering open-source CFD software package. His extensive research interests span numerical simulation methods, mathematical modeling of continuum phenomena, numerical mathematics, and multi-phase and free surface flows, among others. He possesses profound expertise in complex heat and mass transfer systems and multi-physics applications.
In addition to his academic and industry roles, Prof. Hrvoje Jasak has supervised numerous graduate students, including 11 PhD students, and has actively collaborated with leading companies worldwide. His professional affiliations include being a Chartered Engineer and Fellow of IMechE (UK), a Fellow of RINA, a Member of SAE, AIAA, and the Croatian Society of Mechanics (CSM). His substantial body of work, including key publications, reflects his dedication to advancing scientific computing and its practical applications.
Importance of NUMAP-FOAM Summer School
The Numerical Modelling of Coupled Problems in Applied Physics with OpenFOAM (NUMAP-FOAM) Summer School, now in its 16th edition and the second time held at the University of Cambridge, is a prestigious gathering for a carefully selected group of students and researchers from academia and industry. Under the guidance of Program Chair Professor Hrvoje Jasak, this event serves as a pivotal platform for elevating participants to expert levels in applied physics and computational modeling.
Attendees, handpicked for their dedication to the field, receive direct supervision and engage in hands-on project work, enriching their understanding of physical modeling, numerics, and programming skills, with a specific focus on OpenFOAM. This initiative not only nurtures the future innovators of applied physics but also strengthens the bridge between academia and industry, fostering a collaborative environment that contributes to the advancement of the field.
ATS iceAccretionFOAM Project
The ATS IceAccretionFOAM Project emerged from a confluence of expertise and collaboration between ATS Aerothermal Solutions and the esteemed Professor Hrvoje Jasak. Leveraging the momentum gained at the NUMAP-FOAM Summer School 2023, the project was pushed forward.
Ice accretion is a complex and critical phenomenon in aerothermal engineering, impacting various industries and safety considerations. Our project encompasses multiple solver aspects:
Ice Accretion Static Foam: Rime Ice Shapes:
Our collaboration developed a solver for rime ice shapes, a simpler form of ice accretion compared to glaze. Rime ice forms when supercooled water droplets impact the surface without requiring thermodynamic considerations. Professor Jasak has significantly contributed to this stage, achieving the objective of validating the solver and simplifying the solid fraction in relation to droplet total temperature.
Ice Accretion Model:
The project also delves into an ice accretion model where ice accumulates on the surface over time. However, mesh deformation based on the ice profile presents challenges that need to be addressed. Our objective is to resolve these issues and enhance the accuracy of the model.
Ice Accretion Film Foam:
Expanding on the basic ice accretion model, our collaboration is integrating a liquid film into the simulation. This entails incorporating thermo-terms for the liquid film, accounting for freezing processes, and considering energy equations for external flows. We aim to simulate film and rivulets while reviewing various driven forces, such as pressure gradients, shear from external flows, and droplet impingement momentum.
Ice Accretion Foam, Accretion + Imersed + Liquid Film + Thermo:
Pushing the boundaries, our collaboration is developing an integrated solver based on driftEulerFoam, which encompasses accretion, immersed boundary techniques, and a liquid film. This involves topological deformation in patch surfaces based on the accumulated phase over the patches. To simulate glaze accurately, we are refining convective heat transfer calculations by addressing thermal wall functions, laminar-turbulent transitions, and ice density correlations.
