Numerical Evaluation of Nusselt Numbers and Drag Coefficients in Ordered and Stochastic Cylinder Arrays for Bio-inspired Heat Sinks and Vegetation Flows
Faculty Mentor
Hayri Sezer
Location
Russell Union Ballroom
Type of Research
Proposed
Session Format
Poster Presentation
College
Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering & Computing
Department
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Abstract
The characterization of fluid flow and convective heat transfer through multi-element structures is fundamental to the design of high-efficiency thermal systems and the study of environmental canopy flows. This research utilizes an in-house two-dimensional Lattice Boltzmann Method (LBM) solver to evaluate the hydrodynamic and thermal performance of varied cylinder configurations in cross-flow. The computational framework incorporates conjugate heat transfer (CHT) to simultaneously resolve fluid momentum and thermal diffusion, focusing specifically on the determination of Nusselt numbers and drag coefficients across complex geometries.
The study investigates a broad range of arrangements, including traditional inline and staggered arrays, alongside stochastic configurations where cylinder diameters and spatial locations are randomly generated. These irregular geometries are designed to mimic the structural complexity of natural vegetation and the unique, disordered topologies found in additively manufactured heat sinks. The solver has been rigorously validated against experimental data, demonstrating high fidelity in predicting drag coefficients across a variety of flow regimes.
By extending the model to calculate Nusselt numbers, this research identifies how geometric randomness and spatial density influence local and global heat transfer efficiency. The analysis focuses on the interplay between wake interactions, pressure drop, and the resulting thermal-hydraulic performance of non-standard geometries. The findings provide a robust dataset for optimizing bio-inspired cooling systems and predicting the aerodynamic and thermal behavior of complex vegetation in cross-flow. This work demonstrates the capability of the LBM approach as a scalable and accurate numerical tool for the analysis of advanced manufacturing components and complex environmental systems.
Program Description
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Start Date
4-23-2026 2:00 PM
End Date
4-23-2026 4:00 PM
Recommended Citation
McCarthy, Abigeal R., "Numerical Evaluation of Nusselt Numbers and Drag Coefficients in Ordered and Stochastic Cylinder Arrays for Bio-inspired Heat Sinks and Vegetation Flows" (2026). GS4 Student Scholars Symposium. 194.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/research_symposium/2026/2026/194
Numerical Evaluation of Nusselt Numbers and Drag Coefficients in Ordered and Stochastic Cylinder Arrays for Bio-inspired Heat Sinks and Vegetation Flows
Russell Union Ballroom
The characterization of fluid flow and convective heat transfer through multi-element structures is fundamental to the design of high-efficiency thermal systems and the study of environmental canopy flows. This research utilizes an in-house two-dimensional Lattice Boltzmann Method (LBM) solver to evaluate the hydrodynamic and thermal performance of varied cylinder configurations in cross-flow. The computational framework incorporates conjugate heat transfer (CHT) to simultaneously resolve fluid momentum and thermal diffusion, focusing specifically on the determination of Nusselt numbers and drag coefficients across complex geometries.
The study investigates a broad range of arrangements, including traditional inline and staggered arrays, alongside stochastic configurations where cylinder diameters and spatial locations are randomly generated. These irregular geometries are designed to mimic the structural complexity of natural vegetation and the unique, disordered topologies found in additively manufactured heat sinks. The solver has been rigorously validated against experimental data, demonstrating high fidelity in predicting drag coefficients across a variety of flow regimes.
By extending the model to calculate Nusselt numbers, this research identifies how geometric randomness and spatial density influence local and global heat transfer efficiency. The analysis focuses on the interplay between wake interactions, pressure drop, and the resulting thermal-hydraulic performance of non-standard geometries. The findings provide a robust dataset for optimizing bio-inspired cooling systems and predicting the aerodynamic and thermal behavior of complex vegetation in cross-flow. This work demonstrates the capability of the LBM approach as a scalable and accurate numerical tool for the analysis of advanced manufacturing components and complex environmental systems.
