A dual-time method for two-dimensional unsteady incompressible flow calculations

A method for computing unsteady incompressible viscous flows on moving or deforming meshes is described. It uses a well-established time-marching finite-volume flow solver, developed for steady compressible flows past rigid bodies. Time-marching methods cannot be applied directly to incompressible flows because the governing equations are not hyperbolic. Such methods can be extended to steady incompressible flows using an artificial compressibility scheme. A time-accurate scheme for unsteady incompressible flows is achieved by using an implicit real-time discretization and a dual-time approach, which uses a technique similar to the artificial compressibility scheme. Results are presented for test cases on both fixed and deforming meshes. Experimental, numerical and theoretical data have been included for comparison where available and reasonable agreement has been achieved. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.