A computational modeling on two-dimensional laminar flow and thermal characteristics through a strongly bent square channel

In order to have a precise knowledge on how pressure gradients and buoyancy force affect fluid flow and energy distribution in a bending channel, it is important to perform a comprehensive study on flow characteristics and heat transfer mechanisms that trigger out the transition of fluids into a turbulent state, subject to a sustained pressure gradient. The present paper explores a computational modeling on two-dimensional fluid flow and thermal characteristics in a bent square channel of strong curvature. The Newton–Raphson (N-R) iteration method is applied to obtain a bifurcation structure depending on the pressure-driven force, the Dean number (De), covering 0 < De ≤ 5000. As a consequence, four branches of asymmetric steady solutions are identified for each of the cases of the Grashof number, Gn (=1000, 1500, and 2000), where only the first branch is found to exhibit asymmetric two-vortex solutions while the remaining branches encompass two- to four-vortex solutions. The similarity and disparity in the branching structure are also demonstrated. Then, adopting the Adam–Bashforth (A-B) method together with Crank–Nicholson (C-N) formula, the unsteady solutions (US) have been explored, validated by power spectrum density (PSD) and phase space Within the realm of US, two- and three-vortex solutions are found and these solutions exhibit transitions from steady to chaotic behavior profoundly. Effects of the Grashof number with convective heat transfer (CHT) are also compared. By analyzing the Nusselt number (Nu), it is observed that in case of highly chaotic flow, CHT experiences substantial enhancement. This intensified CHT arises from increased turbulence and mixing, facilitating more efficient thermal energy exchange under such chaotic flow conditions.