The CRUNCH CFD^® code is a multi-element (i.e. tetrahedral, prismatic, pyramid, and hexahedral cells), unstructured flow solver for viscous, real gas systems. It allows for generalized thermochemistry specification, permits dynamic grid motion, and has a coupled two-equation turbulence model. For efficient computation of large 3D problems, CRUNCH CFD^® has been parallelized for distributed memory systems and efficient sparse matrix solution procedures have been implemented thereby providing an advanced computational tool for propulsion oriented applications. Present activities of CRUNCH CFD^® are focused in cavitation modeling, turbomachinery applications, and LES.

This unstructured grid framework is well suited for modeling geometrically complex flowfields, and readily permits the use of advanced grid movement and adaptation methods. The grid movement procedure treats the grid as a solid body with elastic properties. The “stress” generated from the moving boundary surfaces, and the resulting local “strain” experienced at an internal grid point provides the local grid node velocity. Grid movement coupled with grid adaption to locally improve grid quality is a powerful tool for simulations of problems with large scale motion.

The grid generation philosophy used in CRUNCH CFD^® exploits the multi-element feature by tailoring the grid topology to the requirements of the flow physics. In regions of high viscous shear such as boundary layers or shear layers, hexahedral or prismatic elements are employed since they permit high aspect ratio cells. Tetrahedral cells are used in gridding regions between hexahedral/prismatic blocks and in low shear regions where isotropic tetrahedral cells are well suited. The versatility of the grid features in CRUNCH CFD^® is illustrated.