Numerical Methods.ppt

Numerical Methods The Nodal Networks Finite Difference Approximation Finite Difference Approximation (cont.) Finite Difference Approximation (cont.) A System of Algebraic Equations Matrix Form Numerical Solutions Iteration Example Example (cont.) Example (cont.) * Due to the increasing complexities encountered in the development of modern technology, analytical solutions usually are not available. For these problems, numerical solutions obtained using high-speed computer are very useful, especially when the geometry of the object of interest is irregular, or the boundary conditions are nonlinear. In numerical analysis, two different approaches are commonly used: the finite difference and the finite element methods. In heat transfer problems, the finite difference method is used more often and will be discussed here. The finite difference method involves: Establish nodal networks Derive finite difference approximations for the governing equation at both interior and exterior nodal points Develop a system of simultaneous algebraic nodal equations Solve the system of equations using numerical schemes The basic idea is to subdivide the area of interest into sub-volumes with the distance between adjacent nodes by Dx and Dy as shown. If the distance between points is small enough, the differential equation can be approximated locally by a set of finite difference equations. Each node now represents a small region where the nodal temperature is a measure of the average temperature of the region. Example: m,n m,n+1 m,n-1 m+1, n m-1,n Dy Dx m-?,n intermediate points m+?,n x=mDx, y=nDy The nodal equations derived previously are valid for all interior points satisfying the steady state, no generation heat equation. For each node, there is one such equation. For example: for nodal point m=3, n=4, the equation is T2,4 + T4,4 + T3,3 + T3,5 - 4T3,4 =0 T3,4=(1/4)(T2,4 + T4,4 + T3,3 + T3,5) Nodal relation table for exterior nodes (boundary conditions) can be found i