Use of a Pressure-Weighted Interpolation Method for the Solution of the Incompressible Navier-Stokes Equations on a Nonstaggered Grid System

A detailed study of the pressure-weighted interpolation method (PWIM) using a non-staggered grid proposed by Rhie and Chow 7 was conducted. Its implementation in the SIMPLEC algorithm in order to obtain results independent of relaxation factor is described. A comparison of predicted results for two test cases, one a flow in a shear-driven cavity and the other a laminar contraction flow, was made using both staggered and nonstaggered grids. Both hybrid and QUICK differencing schemes were used. QUICK differencing with a nonstaggered grid yielded results in closest agreement with experimental and numerical data. It was also found that in regions of very rapidly varying pressure gradients, PWIM can predict physically unrealistic convective velocities