International Journal of Sciences: Basic and Applied Research (IJSBAR) ISSN 2307-4531 (Print & Online) http://gssrr.org/index.php?journal=JournalOfBasicAndApplied ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ CFD Based Numerical Study of Pilgrim’s Movement around Kaab’a a* Mamoun Janajrah, b Muhammad S.Virk a King AbdulAziz University, Mechanical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering-North Jeddah, Jeddah, B.O. Box 80327, 21589, Saudi Arabia b Narvik University College, House 1, Sildertunet, Narvik, 8515, Norway a Email: m.janajrah@gmail.com b Email: msv@hin.no Abstract: Tawaf is one of the most important rituals of Hajj/Umrah pilgrimage and is performed in the Mataf area of the holy mosque ‘Al-Masjid Al-haram’ in Mekkah. During Tawaf each pilgrim walks counter clockwise, seven times in circular movements around Kaab’a, which is situated in the Mataf area. Every year thousands of people go for Hajj and Umrah from all over the world and face difficulties during Tawaf around Kaab’a, particularly in rush hours, specially old men, women and children. The purpose of this research works is to analyse the pilgrim’s movement around Kaab’a during Tawaf in different scenarios and highlights the reasons that causes the difficulties in pilgrim’s movement during Tawaf. 2D computational fluid dynamics (CFD) based, time dependant discrete phase langrangian particle dynamics approach is used to study the pilgrim’s movement around Kaab’a in this regard. These analyses highlighted the main reasons that cause the difficulties in pilgrim’s movement during Tawaf. In long run the goal is to suggest some optimize ways to reduce the turbulence (crowed density) caused by the pilgrim’s movement during Tawaf. Keywords: Tawaf; CFD; Mekkah; Pilgrimage. 1. Introduction Tawaf is one of most important rituals, when Muslims perform Hajj and Umrah in the holy city of Mekkah. Tawaf is the process of circumambulating the Kaab’a seven times in the counter clockwise direction. Movement of pilgrims in rush hours especially during hajj and Ramadan season causes crowed congestion, which cause pilgrims to move in from various directions at the same time [1]. The important factors that have major contributions to the crowed of the Mataf are[2]; • The effect of the geometry (the physical structure) on the crowd. • Attraction points including Hajar Aswad, Multazam, Maqam Ibrahim, Hijir Ismail and the area surrounding Kaab’a as well as relevant activities such as crossing to these attraction points. --------------------------------------------------- * Corresponding author. Tel.: +966543308559 E-mail address: m.janajrah@kau.edu.sa 232