Steady flow through a channel with a symmetrical constriction in the form of a step

Numerical solutions of the Navier-Stokes equations are given for the steady, two-dimensional, laminar flow of an incompressible fluid through a channel with a symmetric constriction in the form of a semi-infinite step change in width. The flow proceeds from a steady Poiseuille velocity distribution far enough upstream of the step in the wider part of the channel to a corresponding distribution downstream in the narrower part and is assumed to remain symmetrical about the centre line of the channel. The numerical scheme involves an accurate and efficient centred difference treatment developed by Dennis & Hudson (1978) and results are obtained for Reynolds numbers, based on half the volumetric flow rate, up to 2000. For a step that halves the width of the channel it is found that very fine uniform grids, with 80 intervals spaced across half of the wider channel upstream, are necessary for resolution of the solution for the flow downstream of the onset of the step. Slightly less refined grids are adequate to resolve the flow upstream. The calculated flow ahead of the step exhibits very good agreement with the asymptotic theory of Smith (1979 b)for Reynolds numbers greater than about 100; indeed, comparisons of the upstream separation position and of the wall vorticity nearby are believed to yield the best agreement between numerical and asymptotic solutions yet found. Downstream there is also qualitative agreement regarding separation and reattachment as the grid size is refined in the numerical results.