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At least 631 records · Page 35

A comparative study of Navier-Stokes codes for high-speed flows

A comparative study was made with four different codes for solving the compressible Navier-Stokes equations using three different test problems. The first of these cases was hypersonic flow through the P8 inlet, which represents inlet configurations typical of a hypersonic airbreathing vehicle. The free-stream Mach number in this case was 7.4. This 2-D inlet was designed to provide an internal compression ratio of 8. Initial calculations were made using two state-of-the-art finite-volume upwind codes, CFL3D and USA-PG2, as well as NASCRIN, a code which uses the unsplit finite-difference technique of MacCormack. All of these codes used the same algebraic eddy-viscosity turbulence model. In the experiment, the cowl lip was slightly blunted; however, for the computations, a sharp cowl leading edge was used to simplify the construction of the grid. The second test problem was the supersonic (Mach 3.0) flow in a three-dimensional corner formed by the intersection of two wedges with equal wedge angles of 9.48 degrees. The flow in such a corner is representative of the flow in the corners of a scramjet inlet. Calculations were made for both laminar and turbulent flow and compared with experimental data. The three-dimensional versions of the three codes used for the inlet study (CFL3D, USA-PG3, and SCRAMIN, respectively) were used for this case. For the laminar corner flow, a fourth code, LAURA, which also uses recently-developed upwind technology, was also utilized. The final test case is the two-dimensional hypersonic flow over a compression ramp. The flow is laminar with a free-stream Mach number of 14.1. In the experiment, the ramp angle was varied to change the strength of the ramp shock and the extent of the viscous-inviscid interaction. Calculations were made for the 24-degree ramp configuration which produces a large separated-flow region that extends upstream of the corner.

Rudy, David H.↗

Turbulence compressibility corrections

The basic objective of this research was to identify, develop and recommend turbulence models which could be incorporated into CFD codes used in the design of the National AeroSpace Plane vehicles. To accomplish this goal, a combined effort consisting of experimental and theoretical phases was undertaken. The experimental phase consisted of a literature survey to collect and assess a database of well documented experimental flows, with emphasis on high speed or hypersonic flows, which could be used to validate turbulence models. Since it was anticipated that this database would be incomplete and would need supplementing, additional experiments in the NASA Ames 3.5-Foot Hypersonic Wind Tunnel (HWT) were also undertaken. The theoretical phase consisted of identifying promising turbulence models through applications to simple flows, and then investigating more promising models in applications to complex flows. The complex flows were selected from the database developed in the first phase of the study. For these flows it was anticipated that model performance would not be entirely satisfactory, so that model improvements or corrections would be required. The primary goals of the investigation were essentially achieved. A large database of flows was collected and assessed, a number of additional hypersonic experiments were conducted in the Ames HWT, and two turbulence models (kappa-epsilon and kappa-omega models with corrections) were determined which gave superior performance for most of the flows studied and are now recommended for NASP applications.

Coakley, T. J.↗

Hypersonic Nozzle/Afterbody Experiment: Flow Visualization and Boundary Layer Experiments

This study was conducted to experimentally characterize the flow field created by the interaction of a single-expansion-ramp-nozzle (SERN) flow with a hypersonic external stream Data were obtained from a generic nozzle/afterbody model in the 3.5-Foot Hypersonic Wind Tunnel of the NASA Ames Research Center in a cooperative experimental program involving Ames and the McDonnell Douglas Aerospace. The model design and test planning were performed in close cooperation with members of the Ames computational fluid dynamics (CFD) team for the National Aero-Space Plane (NASP) program. This paper presents experimental results consisting of oil-flow and shadowgraph flow-visualization photographs, afterbody surface-pressure distributions, boundary-layer rake measurements, and Preston-tube skin-friction measurements.

Keener, Earl R.↗

Aerothermodynamic heating analysis of aerobraking and aeromaneuvering orbital-transfer vehicles

The thermal-protection requirements of two aeroassisted orbital-transfer vehicles (AOTVs) are analyzed for return missions between the geosynchronous and Shuttle orbits. One of the designs is a specialized version of a previously proposed generic aerobraking vehicle that is capable of only delivery-type operations. The other is a high-lift aeromaneuvering vehicle that is optimized for low-earth orbit sortie missions involving large, multiple plane-inclination changes. The aerothermal environment of the aerobraking vehicle is analyzed using state-of-the-art methods for nonequilibrium-radiative and convective heating that incorporate refinements unique to the configuration. The heating analysis of the aeromaneuvering vehicle required the development of a flow-field model for rarefied-hypersonic flow over a lifting surface at incidence. The predicted aerothermodynamic heating characteristics for both vehicles are correlated with thermal-control requirements and flight performance capabilities for the specified mission guidelines. The results help identify technical issues related to the development of future operational systems.

Davies, C. B.↗

Theoretical and computational dynamics of a compressible flow

An introduction to the theoretical and computational fluid dynamics of a compressible fluid is presented. The general topics addressed include: thermodynamics and physical properties of compressible fluids; 1D flow of an inviscid compressible fluid; shock waves; fundamental equations of the dynamics of a compressible inviscid non-heat-conducting and radiating fluid, method of small perturbations, linearized theory; 2D subsonic steady potential flow; hodograph and rheograph methods, exact solutions of 2D insentropic steady flow equations, 2D steady transonic and hypersonic flows, method of characteristics, linearized theory of 3D potential flow, nonlinear theory of 3D compressibe flow, anisentropic (rotational) flow of inviscid compressible fluid, electromagnetogasdynamics, multiphase flows, flows of a compressible fluid with transport phenomena.

Pai, Shih-I↗

Transition and Turbulence Modeling for Blunt-Body Wake Flows

This study attempts t o improve the modeling and computational prediction of high- speed transitional wake flows. The recently developed kappa - zeta (Enstrophy) turbulence model is coupled with a newly developed transition prediction method and implemented in an implicit flow solver well-suited to hypersonic flows. In this model, transition onset is determined as part of the solution. Results obtained using the new model for a 70- deg blunted cone/sting geometry demonstrate better agreement with experimental heat- transfer measurements when compared to laminar calculations as well as solutions using the kappa - omega model. Results are also presented for the situation where transition onset is preselected. It is shown that, in this case, results are quite sensitive to location of the transition point.

Nance, Robert P.↗

Status Of The UPS Space-Marching Flow Solver

The status of the three-dimensional parabolized Navier-Stokes solver UPS is described. The UPS code, initiated at NASA Ames Research Center in 1986, continues to develop and evolve through application to supersonic and hypersonic flow fields. Hypersonic applications have motivated enhancement of the physical modeling capabilities of the code, specifically real gas modeling, boundary conditions, and turbulence and transition modeling. The UPS code has also been modified to enhance robustness and efficiency in order to be practically used in concert with an optimization code for supersonic transport design. These developments are briefly described along with some relevant results for generic test problems obtained during verification of the enhancements. Included developments and results have previously been published and widely disseminated domestically.

Lawerence, Scott L.↗