Particle-in-Cell Method

In Chapter Particle-in-Cell Method, it was stated that “if the exact distribution of \(\vec v\) were known everywhere in the control volume surrounding the cylinder, then the integrals of the momentum theorem, and thus FT could be evaluated without the need for the experimental constants.” As a natural extension of this statement, it should be pointed out that there is a way for determining what amounts to the “exact distrubution” of “ \(\vec v\). This approach, although not widely used, for a number of reasons which will be pointed out later, is the subject of this chapter. The original method (known as Particle-In-Cell (PIC)) was developed by Harlow (1955) and by Evans and Harlow (1957), and has been greatly extended by Welch, Harlow, Shannon and Daly (1966). The latter treatment is known as the Marker and Cell (MAC) method. For a complete and thorough discussion, the reader should consult the original references. However, because of its importance and potential application to a wide range of problems involving ocean structures, a brief review of the method is given herein.