FloWorks and drag force on a sphere

Discussion in 'SolidWorks' started by Lars Schmidt, May 10, 2004.

  1. Lars Schmidt

    Lars Schmidt Guest

    Hi

    I've been working with FloWorks for about ½ a year now. For the purpose of
    gettin' to know the program, I've done some external simulations on a sphere
    of 6mm diameter.

    Fluid = Air (SW defined)
    Fluidvelocity = 80 m/s

    The drag force Fd on a sphere can be calculated by Fd = 1/2*Cd*A*rho*v^2

    where
    Cd = Drag Coefficient (aprox. constant when Reynolds number Re>1000) I've
    used Cd = 0.47
    A = crosssectional area normal to flow direction.
    rho = density of fluid.
    v = velocity of fluid relative to the sphere.

    The difference between the CFD and the "calculated" values are minimal.

    THE QUESTION!!! (aye, that's right...I'm actually gettin' to it)

    To get the drag force in FloWorks, I take a "Surface Parameters" on the
    sphere's surface (all of it). Of cause I only need the component that points
    in the flow direction. BUT!! the value is presented in two parts. A field
    saying "Normal Force" and one saying "Force". Why is that? I have to add
    these values to get the correct number. What's the difference between
    "Normal Force" and "Force"?

    TIA
    Lars Schmidt
    Mech. Ing.
    Denmark
     
    Lars Schmidt, May 10, 2004
    #1
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