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At least 181 records · Page 10

The efficient solution of transonic wing flow fields

An evaluation of the transonic-wing-analysis computer code TWING is presented. TWING utilizes a fully implicit, approximate-factorization iteration scheme to solve the full-potential equation in conservative form. A numerical elliptic-solver grid-generation scheme is used to generate the required finite-difference mesh. Several wing configurations have been analyzed, and comparisons of computed results have been made with available experimental data. Results indicate that the code is robust, accurate (when significant viscous effects are not present), and efficient. TWING generally produces solutions an order of magnitude faster than other conservative, full-potential codes using successive-line overrelaxation. The present method is applicable to a wide range of isolated wing configurations, including high-aspect-ratio transport wings and low-aspect-ratio, high-sweep, fighter configurations.

Holst, T. L.↗

Direct Coupling Method for Time-Accurate Solution of Incompressible Navier-Stokes Equations

A noniterative finite difference numerical method is presented for the solution of the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations with second order accuracy in time and space. Explicit treatment of convection and diffusion terms and implicit treatment of the pressure gradient give a single pressure Poisson equation when the discretized momentum and continuity equations are combined. A pressure boundary condition is not needed on solid boundaries in the staggered mesh system. The solution of the pressure Poisson equation is obtained directly by Gaussian elimination. This method is tested on flow problems in a driven cavity and a curved duct.

Soh, Woo Y.↗

Three-dimensional unstructured grid Euler computations using a fully-implicit, upwind method

A method has been developed to solve the Euler equations on a three-dimensional unstructured grid composed of tetrahedra. The method uses an upwind flow solver with a linearized, backward-Euler time integration scheme. Each time step results in a sparse linear system of equations which is solved by an iterative, sparse matrix solver. Local-time stepping, switched evolution relaxation (SER), preconditioning and reuse of the Jacobian are employed to accelerate the convergence rate. Implicit boundary conditions were found to be extremely important for fast convergence. Numerical experiments have shown that convergence rates comparable to that of a multigrid, central-difference scheme are achievable on the same mesh. Results are presented for several grids about an ONERA M6 wing.

Whitaker, David L.↗

Computation of Steady and Unsteady Laminar Flames: Theory

In this paper we describe the numerical analysis underlying our efforts to develop an accurate and reliable code for simulating flame propagation using complex physical and chemical models. We discuss our spatial and temporal discretization schemes, which in our current implementations range in order from two to six. In space we use staggered meshes to define discrete divergence and gradient operators, allowing us to approximate complex diffusion operators while maintaining ellipticity. Our temporal discretization is based on the use of preconditioning to produce a highly efficient linearly implicit method with good stability properties. High order for time accurate simulations is obtained through the use of extrapolation or deferred correction procedures. We also discuss our techniques for computing stationary flames. The primary issue here is the automatic generation of initial approximations for the application of Newton's method. We use a novel time-stepping procedure, which allows the dynamic updating of the flame speed and forces the flame front towards a specified location. Numerical experiments are presented, primarily for the stationary flame problem. These illustrate the reliability of our techniques, and the dependence of the results on various code parameters.

Hagstrom, Thomas↗

Multigrid solution of compressible turbulent flow on unstructured meshes using a two-equation model

The steady state solution of the system of equations consisting of the full Navier-Stokes equations and two turbulence equations has been obtained using a multigrid strategy of unstructured meshes. The flow equations and turbulence equations are solved in a loosely coupled manner. The flow equations are advanced in time using a multistage Runge-Kutta time-stepping scheme with a stability-bound local time step, while turbulence equations are advanced in a point-implicit scheme with a time step which guarantees stability and positivity. Low-Reynolds-number modifications to the original two-equation model are incorporated in a manner which results in well-behaved equations for arbitrarily small wall distances. A variety of aerodynamic flows are solved, initializing all quantities with uniform freestream values. Rapid and uniform convergence rates for the flow and turbulence equations are observed.

MULTIGRID SOLUTION↗

Viscous flow solutions with a cubic spline approximation

A cubic spline approximation is used for the solution of several problems in fluid mechanics. This procedure provides a high degree of accuracy even with a nonuniform mesh, and leads to a more accurate treatment of derivative boundary conditions. The truncation errors and stability limitations of several typical integration schemes are presented. For two-dimensional flows a spline-alternating-direction-implicit (SADI) method is evaluated. The spline procedure is assessed and results are presented for the one-dimensional nonlinear Burgers' equation, as well as the two-dimensional diffusion equation and the vorticity-stream function system describing the viscous flow in a driven cavity. Comparisons are made with analytic solutions for the first two problems and with finite-difference calculations for the cavity flow.

Rubin, S. G.↗

Fractional Step and Pseudocompressibility Methods for the Solution of Incompressible Navier-Stokes Equations

The fractional step and the pseudocompressibility methods for the solution of the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations are outlined. The fractional step method is based on finite-volume formulation and uses the pressure and the volume fluxes across the faces of each cell as dependent variables. The momentum equations are solved implicitly and the Poisson equation for the pressure is solved by using the multigrid method. The pseudocompressibility approach uses an implicit-higher-order-upwind differencing scheme for the convective terms together with the Gauss-Seidel line relaxation method. The dependent variables in the pseudocompressibility approach are the pressure and the cartesian velocity components in unstaggered mesh orientation. The 90-degree square duct flow, the wing-tip vortex wake flow and unsteady turbulent flows over an oscillating NACA 0015 airfoil are computed using both the fractional step and the pseudocompressibility methods. The results obtained from two different schemes are compared against experimental measurements.

Kiris, Cetin↗

Accuracy of the domain method for the material derivative approach to shape design sensitivities

Numerical accuracy for the boundary and domain methods of the material derivative approach to shape design sensitivities is investigated through the use of mesh refinement. The results show that the domain method is generally more accurate than the boundary method, using the finite element technique. It is also shown that the domain method is equivalent, under certain assumptions, to the implicit differentiation approach not only theoretically but also numerically.

Yang, R. J.↗

Vectorization on the star computer of several numerical methods for a fluid flow problem

A reexamination of some numerical methods is considered in light of the new class of computers which use vector streaming to achieve high computation rates. A study has been made of the effect on the relative efficiency of several numerical methods applied to a particular fluid flow problem when they are implemented on a vector computer. The method of Brailovskaya, the alternating direction implicit method, a fully implicit method, and a new method called partial implicitization have been applied to the problem of determining the steady state solution of the two-dimensional flow of a viscous imcompressible fluid in a square cavity driven by a sliding wall. Results are obtained for three mesh sizes and a comparison is made of the methods for serial computation.

Lambiotte, J. J., Jr.↗

Finite element concepts in computational aerodynamics

Finite element theory was employed to establish an implicit numerical solution algorithm for the time averaged unsteady Navier-Stokes equations. Both the multidimensional and a time-split form of the algorithm were considered, the latter of particular interest for problem specification on a regular mesh. A Newton matrix iteration procedure is outlined for solving the resultant nonlinear algebraic equation systems. Multidimensional discretization procedures are discussed with emphasis on automated generation of specific nonuniform solution grids and accounting of curved surfaces. The time-split algorithm was evaluated with regards to accuracy and convergence properties for hyperbolic equations on rectangular coordinates. An overall assessment of the viability of the finite element concept for computational aerodynamics is made.

Baker, A. J.↗

Comparison of the full potential and Euler formulations for computing transonic airfoil flows

A quantitative comparison between the Euler and full potential formulations with respect to speed and accuracy is presented. The robustness of the codes used is tested by a number of transonic airfoil cases. The computed results are from four transonic airfoil computer codes. The full potential codes use fully implicit iteration algorithms. The first Euler code uses a fully implicit ADI iteration scheme. The second Euler code uses an explicit Runge Kutta time stepping algorithm which is enhanced by a multigrid convergence acceleration scheme. Quantitative comparisons are made using various plots of lift coefficient versus the average mesh spacing along the airfoil. Besides yielding an asymptotic limit to the lift coefficient, these results also demonstrate the truncation error behavior of the various codes. Quantitative conclusions regarding the full potential and Euler formulations with respect to accuracy, speed, and robustness can be presented.

Flores, J.↗

Investigation of advanced counterrotation blade configuration concepts for high speed turboprop systems. Task 4: Advanced fan section aerodynamic analysis

The purpose of this study is the development of a three-dimensional Euler/Navier-Stokes flow analysis for fan section/engine geometries containing multiple blade rows and multiple spanwise flow splitters. An existing procedure developed by Dr. J. J. Adamczyk and associates and the NASA Lewis Research Center was modified to accept multiple spanwise splitter geometries and simulate engine core conditions. The procedure was also modified to allow coarse parallelization of the solution algorithm. This document is a final report outlining the development and techniques used in the procedure. The numerical solution is based upon a finite volume technique with a four stage Runge-Kutta time marching procedure. Numerical dissipation is used to gain solution stability but is reduced in viscous dominated flow regions. Local time stepping and implicit residual smoothing are used to increase the rate of convergence. Multiple blade row solutions are based upon the average-passage system of equations. The numerical solutions are performed on an H-type grid system, with meshes being generated by the system (TIGG3D) developed earlier under this contract. The grid generation scheme meets the average-passage requirement of maintaining a common axisymmetric mesh for each blade row grid. The analysis was run on several geometry configurations ranging from one to five blade rows and from one to four radial flow splitters. Pure internal flow solutions were obtained as well as solutions with flow about the cowl/nacelle and various engine core flow conditions. The efficiency of the solution procedure was shown to be the same as the original analysis.

Crook, Andrew J.↗

Three-dimensional boundary layer calculation by a characteristic method

A numerical method for solving the three-dimensional boundary layer equations for bodies of arbitrary shape is presented. In laminar flows, the application domain extends from incompressible to hypersonic flows with the assumption of chemical equilibrium. For turbulent boundary layers, the application domain is limited by the validity of the mixing length model used. In order to respect the hyperbolic nature of the equations reduced to first order partial derivative terms, the momentum equations are discretized along the local streamlines using of the osculator tangent plane at each node of the body fitted coordinate system. With this original approach, it is possible to overcome the use of the generalized coordinates, and therefore, it is not necessary to impose an extra hypothesis about the regularity of the mesh in which the boundary conditions are given. By doing so, it is possible to limit, and sometimes to suppress, the pre-treatment of the data coming from an inviscid calculation. Although the proposed scheme is only semi-implicit, the method remains numerically very efficient.

Houdeville, R.↗

Viscous analysis of three-dimensional rotor flows using a multigrid method

A three-dimensional code for rotating blade-row flow analysis was developed. The space discretization uses a cell-centered scheme with eigenvalues scaling for the artificial dissipation. The computational efficiency of a four-stage Runge-Kutta scheme is enhanced by using variable coefficients, implicit residual smoothing, and a full-multigrid method. An application is presented for the NASA rotor 67 transonic fan. Due to the blade stagger and twist, a zonal, non-periodic H-type grid is used to minimize the mesh skewness. The calculation is validated by comparing it with experiments in the range from the maximum flow rate to a near-stall condition. A detailed study of the flow structure near peak efficiency and near stall is presented by means of pressure distribution and particle traces inside boundary layers.

Arnone, A.↗

A comprehensive comparison of turbulence models in the far wake

In the present study, the far wake was examined numerically using an implicit, upwind, finite-volume, compressible Navier-Stokes code. The numerical grid started at 500 equivalent circular cylinder diameters in the wave, and extended to 4000 equivalent diameters. By concentrating only on the far wake, the numerical difficulties and fine mesh requirements near the wake-generating body were eliminated. At the time of this writing, results for the K-epsilon and K-omega turbulence models at low Mach number have been completed and show excellent agreement with previous incompressible results and far-wake similarity solutions. The code is presently being used to compare the performance of various other turbulence models, including Reynolds stress models and the new anisotropic two-equation turbulence models being developed at NASA Langley. By increasing our physical understanding of the deficiencies and limits of these models, it is hoped that improvements to the universality of the models can be made. Future plans include examination of two-dimensional momentumless wakes as well.

Cimbala, John M.↗

Validation of three-dimensional incompressible spatial direct numerical simulation code: A comparison with linear stability and parabolic stability equation theories for boundary-layer transition on a flat plate

Spatially evolving instabilities in a boundary layer on a flat plate are computed by direct numerical simulation (DNS) of the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations. In a truncated physical domain, a nonstaggered mesh is used for the grid. A Chebyshev-collocation method is used normal to the wall; finite difference and compact difference methods are used in the streamwise direction; and a Fourier series is used in the spanwise direction. For time stepping, implicit Crank-Nicolson and explicit Runge-Kutta schemes are used to the time-splitting method. The influence-matrix technique is used to solve the pressure equation. At the outflow boundary, the buffer-domain technique is used to prevent convective wave reflection or upstream propagation of information from the boundary. Results of the DNS are compared with those from both linear stability theory (LST) and parabolized stability equation (PSE) theory. Computed disturbance amplitudes and phases are in very good agreement with those of LST (for small inflow disturbance amplitudes). A measure of the sensitivity of the inflow condition is demonstrated with both LST and PSE theory used to approximate inflows. Although the DNS numerics are very different than those of PSE theory, the results are in good agreement. A small discrepancy in the results that does occur is likely a result of the variation in PSE boundary condition treatment in the far field. Finally, a small-amplitude wave triad is forced at the inflow, and simulation results are compared with those of LST. Again, very good agreement is found between DNS and LST results for the 3-D simulations, the implication being that the disturbance amplitudes are sufficiently small that nonlinear interactions are negligible.

Joslin, Ronald D.↗

Impingement of an oblique shock wave on a cylinder

This paper presents a numerical simulation of impingement of an oblique shock wave on a cylinder. The study was undertaken to understand the three-dimensional shock wave and boundary-layer interactions occurring on problems such as the impingement of the bow shock wave from the Shuttle nose on an external tank, and store-carriage interference on a supersonic tactical aircraft. A thin-layer approximation of the Navier-Stokes equations is solved by a mixed explicit-implicit scheme for a supersonic Mach 4 flow with an incident shock angle of 25 deg. Both laminar and turbulent flows are investigated. Surface pressures show large extents of upstream influence, except near windward plane. Based on plots of velocity at the first mesh points above the cylinder body, a conjectured limiting-streamline pattern is constructed. Three-dimensional separation is studied, and the role of crossflow is discussed.

Hung, C. M.↗

Implicit computations of unsteady transonic flow governed by the full-potential equation in conservation form

An alternating-direction implicit algorithm is presented for solving the conservative, full-potential equation for unsteady, transonic flow. A new development is the time-linearization of the density function. This linearization reduces the solution process from one of solving a system of two equations at each mesh point to one of solving a single equation. Two sample cases are computed. First, a one-dimensional traveling shock wave is computed and compared with the analytic solution. Second, a two-dimensional case is computed of a flow field that results from a thickening and subsequently thinning airfoil. The resulting flow field, which includes a traveling shock wave, is compared to the flow field obtained from the low-frequency, small-disturbance, transonic equation.

Goorjian, P. M.↗