Application of computational fluid dynamics in paleontology — a case study of a simulation model of Cambrian eocrinoid using COMSOL software
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Abstract:
Functional analysis of the fossil traits is one of the significant topics in paleontology and paleoecology. However, many long-standing functional and ecological hypotheses are controversial. One of many reasons is the lackof living organisms to compare with. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) opens a new window in paleontological research. The CFD is a method for simulating the interaction between solid surfaces and their surrounding fluid. The results of fluid properties within the flow domain can be visualized as plots and exact mechanics-related values by using a computer to numerically solve the fluid motion described by complex equations. As a multi-physical field simulation software, COMSOL multiphysics is suitable for CFD simulation of the model of fossils. In this paper, the hydrodynamic simulation of eocrinoid model from the Kaili Formation was employed as a case study to test the hypothesis that spiral brachioles would have created a turbulent zone around them. The simulation results show that there is no turbulent vortex around the brachioles but a low-velocity region within the current velocities from 0.01 m/s to 0.5 m/s. The formation of the low velocity zone enables the eocrinoid to gather food. In addition, this paper introduces detailed operation steps of hydrodynamics simulation using COMSOL, hoping to help more researchers understand and use CFD method in their studies.
