Research
UCNS3D is fundamentally a research platform, it enables Research & Development in the field of Computational Fluid Dynamics, from spatial and temporal discretisation schemes to Riemann solvers and turbulence models. The current state of UCSN3D is attributed to extensive collaborative research and funded projects.
Selected Publications
- P. Tsoutsanis, X. Nogueira, L. Fu “A short note on 3D spectral analysis for turbulent flows on unstructured meshes“, Journal of Computational Physics, (2023), V473, 111804.
- V. Maltsev, D. Yuan, K. W. Jenkins, M. Skote, P. Tsoutsanis, “Hybrid Discontinuous Galerkin-Finite Volume Techniques for Compressible Flows on Unstructured Meshes“, Journal of Computational Physics, (2023), V473, 111755.
- P. Tsoutsanis, M.S.S.P. Kumar, P.S. Farmakis, “A relaxed a posteriori MOOD algorithm for multicomponent compressible flows using high-order finite-volume methods on unstructured meshes“, Journal of Applied Mathematics and Computation, (2023), V437, 127544.
- A.F. Antoniadis, D. Drikakis, P.S. Farmakis, L. Fu, I. Kokkinakis, X. Nogueira, P.A.S.F. Silva, M. Skote, V. Titarev, P. Tsoutsanis, “UCNS3D: An open-source high-order finite-volume unstructured CFD solver“, Computer Physics Communications, (2022), V279, 108453.
- P. A.S.F. Silva, P. Tsoutsanis, A.F. Antoniadis, “Numerical investigation of full-helicopter with and without the ground effect”, Aerospace Science and Technology, (2022), V122, 107401.
- V. Maltsev, P. Tsoutsanis, M. Skote, “High-order methods for diffuse-interface models in compressible multi-medium flows: A review”, Physics of Fluids, (2022),Journal of Scientific Computing, (2021), V34, 021301.
- P. Tsoutsanis, E.M. Adebayo, A. C. Merino, A. P. Arjona, M. Skote, “CWENO Finite-Volume Interface Capturing Schemes for Multicomponent Flows Using Unstructured Meshes”, Journal of Scientific Computing, (2021), V89, 64.
- P. Tsoutsanis, M. Dumbser,“Arbitrary high-order central non-oscillatory schemes on mixed-element unstructured meshes”, Computer and Fluids, (2021), V225, 104961.
- P. A.S.F. Silva, P. Tsoutsanis, A. F. Antoniadis,“Simple multiple reference frame for high-order solution of hovering rotors with and without ground effect”,Aerospace Science and Technology, (2021), V111, 106518.
- P. Farmakis, X. Nogueira, P. Tsoutsanis,“WENO schemes for unstructured meshes using a relaxed a posteriori MOOD limiting approach”,Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering, 2020, V363, 112921.
- F. Ricci, P. A.S.F. Silva, P. Tsoutsanis, A. F. Antoniadis,“Hovering rotor solutions by high-order methods on unstructured grids”, Aerospace Science and Technology, (2020), V97, 105648.
- P. Tsoutsanis “Stencil selection algorithms for WENO schemes on unstructured meshes”, Journal of Computational Physics, 2019, V4, 100037.
- P. Tsoutsanis “Extended bounds limiter for high-order finite-volume schemes on unstructured meshes”, Journal of Computational Physics, 2018, V362, p.69-94.
- N. Simmonds, P. Tsoutsanis, A. F. Antoniadis, K. W. Jenkins, “Low-Mach number treatment for Finite-Volume schemes on unstructured meshes”, Applied Mathematics and Computation, 2018 , V336, p. 368-394.
- P. Tsoutsanis, A. F. Antoniadis, K. W. Jenkins, “Improvement of the computational performance of a parallel unstructured WENO finite volume CFD code for Implicit Large Eddy Simulation”, Computer and Fluids, 2018, V173, p.157-170.
- A. F. Antoniadis, P. Tsoutsanis, D. Drikakis, “Assessment of high-order finite volume methods on unstructured meshes for RANS solutions of aeronautical configurations”, Computer and Fluids, 2017, V146, p.86-104.
- P. Tsoutsanis, D. Drikakis, “A high-order finite-volume method for atmospheric flows on unstructured grids”, Journal of Coupled Systems and Multiscale Dynamics, 2016,V4, p.170-186.
- N. Simmonds, P. Tsoutsanis, A. Gaylard, “Implementation of a low-Mach number modification for High-Order Finite-Volume Schemes for Arbitrary Hybrid Unstructured Meshes”, ECCOMAS 2016 Congress, Crete, Greece, 2016, p. 2900-2915.
- P. Tsoutsanis, D. Drikakis, “Addressing the Challenges of Implementation of High-Order Finite-Volume Schemes for Atmospheric Dynamics on Unstructured Meshes”, ECCOMAS 2016 Congress, Crete, Greece, 2016, p. 684-708.
- H. Srinivasan, P. Tsoutsanis, “AMR techniques for High-Order Finite-Volume Weno Scheme”, ECCOMAS 2016 Congress, Crete, Greece, 2016, p. 2883-2899.
- P. Tsoutsanis , I.W. Kokkinakis ,L. Konozsy, D. Drikakis, R.J.R. Williams, D. Youngs, “Comparison of structured and unstructured-grid, compressible and incompressible methods using the vortex pairing problem”, Journal of Computer methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering, 2015, V293, p207-231.
- A. F. Antoniadis, P.Tsoutsanis, Z. Rana, I.Kokkinakis, D. Drikakis “Azure: An Advanced CFD software suite based on High-Resolution and High-order Methods”, AIAA Aerospace Science Conference, Florida, USA, 2015.
- A. F. Antoniadis, P.Tsoutsanis, D. Drikakis, “Numerical Accuracy in RANS Computations of High-Lift Multi-Element Airfoil and Aircraft Configurations”, 53rdAIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting, Florida, USA, 2015.
- I. W. Kokkinakis, A. F. Antoniadis, D. Drikakis, P.Tsoutsanis, Z. Rana, “High-Order Methods for Hypersonic Shock Wave Turbulent Boundary Layer Interaction”, 20th AIAA International Space Planes and Hypersonics Systems and Technologies Conference,Glasgow, Scotland, 2015.
- P. Tsoutsanis, A.F. Antoniadis, D. Drikakis, “WENO Schemes on Arbitrary Unstructured Meshes for Laminar, Transitional and Turbulent Flows”, Journal of Computational Physics, 2014, V256, p254-276.
- A. F. Antoniadis, P. Tsoutsanis, D. Drikakis, “High-order schemes on mixed-element unstructured grids for aerodynamic flows“, 42nd AIAA Fluid Dynamics Conference and Exhibit, Louisiana, New Orleans, USA, 2012.
- P. Tsoutsanis, V. Titarev, D. Drikakis, “WENO schemes on arbitrary mixed-element unstructured meshes in three space dimensions”, Journal of Computational Physics, 2011, V230, p.1585-1601.
- A. F. Antoniadis, K. H. Iqbal, E. Shapiro, N. Asproulis, D. Drikakis “Comparison of high-order Finite Volume and Discontinuous Galerkin methods on 3D unstructured grids”, AIP conference proceedings, 1389, 1886, 2011.
- V. Titarev, P.Tsoutsanis, D. Drikakis, “WENO Schemes for mixed-element unstructured meshes”, Journal of Communications on Computational Physics, 2010, V8, p585-60
Funding

- EPSRC Tier-2 High-Performance Computing CSD was awarded under Grant number EP/P020259/1.
- EPSRC and UK Turbulence Consortium access was provided to the UK national high-performance facility ARCHER, under the EPSRC Grant number EP/L000261/1.
- EPSRC pilot access on Knights Landing architecture see benchmark results from EPCC here.
- EPSRC iCASE award by Jaguar Land Rover under Grant number 13794.
- EPSRC iCASE award by Airbus Operations UK
- EPSRC Mathematics Grant: “Adaptively Tuned High-Order Unstructured Finite-Volume Methods for Turbulent Flows”, EP/W037092/1
Higher Education Innovation Fund through Cranfield University supports the development and release of the UCNS3D project.

Technology Strategy Board (now Innovate UK) funded the aerodynamic study a concept electric aircraft under Grant number 751993.
Innovate UK and Airbus Operations UK on multi fidelity multi physics modelling under Grant Number 263261.

Through the EU FP7 project, CHANGE with Grant number 314139, external aerodynamics capabilities of UCNS3D were assessed.
Projects HOVE1, HOVE2, and HOVE3 dedicated to the parallel performance improvement of UCNS3D code, under the auspices of PRACE.

The Project HPC-EUROPA3 under Grant number INFRAIA-2016-1-730897 further improved the computational efficiency and scalability of the solver.
ARCHER Image & Video Competition 2017
Winning Early Career Entry: Panagiotis Tsoutsanis, Cranfield University, “Supersonic Kelvin-Helmholtz instability simulation” link.
ARCHER2 Image & Video Competition 2021
Winning Video Entry: Panagiotis Tsoutsanis, Cranfield University, “Shockwave interaction with cavity bubble” link.
© 2023 UCNS3D team