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At least 793 records · Page 44

Lee-surface vortex effects over configurations in hypersonic flow.

The role of vortices in producing intense localized hea ting to the leeward regions of a variety of configurations is shown and discussed. From experimental results, flow-field models are proposed which account for the interaction of the vortex and the upper surface boundary layer; correlation of the heating is then possible for planar delta wings. Guidelines derived from these studies are offered which reduce the vortex-induced heating by appropriate shaping of configurations such as the space shuttle. Reynolds number is shown to exert a large influence on the magnitude and location of the induced heating.

Whitehead, A. H., Jr.↗

Implicit finite-difference procedures for the computation of vortex wakes

Implicit finite-difference procedures for the primitive form of the incompressible Navier-Stokes and the compressible Euler equations are used to compute vortex wake flows. The partial differential equations in strong conservation-law form are transformed to cluster grid points in regions with large changes in vorticity. In addition to clustering, fourth-order accurate, spatial difference operators are used to help resolve the flow-field gradients. The use of implicit time-differencing permits large time steps to be taken since temporal variations are typically small. Computational efficiency is achieved by approximate factorization. Both two-dimensional and preliminary three-dimensional calculations are described and qualitatively compared with existing experimental data.

Steger, J. L.↗

The effect of blade sweep on propeller performance

The advanced propeller developed for high Mach number cruise incorporates swept blades to reduce compressibility losses. In order to evaluate the induced flow-field vortex lattice methods are applied to a swept propeller blade. The blade is modeled by a radial distribution of helical horseshoe vortices with a single swept bound vortex at the quarter chord and the control point at the three-quarter chord of each radial section. The results of numerical calculations show that the power coefficient decreases as the blade is swept and the power loading distribution shifts inboard.

Sullivan, J. P.↗

Computational simulation of corotational vortex merger using 0, 1, and 2 equation turbulence models

A computational study has been conducted to gain a better understanding of the role of turbulence in the merger of corotating vortices and in the decay of a single vortex. The flow field is simulated by using an inviscid flow model and zero-, one-, and two-equation turbulent-flow models. An implicit finite-difference procedure is employed to integrate the unsteady, two-dimensional, incompressible flow equations in a cross-plane. In the zero- and one-equation models, a spatially varying mixing-length model that simulates the streamline curvature effect is used to define an eddy viscosity. The computational merging distance criterion is in good agreement with the experimental one. In the case of the two-equation model, the turbulent kinetic energy and a modified rate of dissipation equation incorporating a curvature correction term are solved. A comparative study of the computational results corresponding to the various flow models and the available experimental data is presented.

Raj, P.↗

Laser velocimeter measurements of dynamic stall

Laser velocimeter measurements were made during the study of a two-dimensional NACA 0012 airfoil undergoing conditions of dynamic stall. The measurements, which were obtained in the Ames 2 foot wind tunnel at reduced frequencies of 0.12 and 1.2, show significant flow field hysteresis around the static stall angle. Comparisons were also made with dual-plate interferograms and good agreement was found for the attached flow cases. For separated flow, characteristic vortex shedding caused poor agreement and significantly increased the measured Reynolds shear stresses.

Owen, F. K.↗

Numerical solution of the Navier-Stokes equations with emphasis on rotorcraft applications

Recent advances in CFD are surveyed, with a focus on the applicability of codes based on the Navier-Stokes (NS) equations to helicopter aerodynamics. The developmental history of two- and three-dimensional NS codes is recalled; the formulations employed by codes of increasing complexity are outlined; and previous reviews are noted. Particular attention is given to Reynolds-averaged NS methods and their use in analyzing subsonic, transonic, and vortex-dominated flows. Typical numerical results are compared with experimental data in diagrams and graphs, and a number of outstanding problems are considered.

Holst, Terry L.↗

Prediction of unsteady loads on maneuvering delta wings using time-accurate Euler schemes

Three-dimensional steady and unsteady vortex-dominated flows around sharp-edged delta wings are considered in this paper. The problem is formulated by using the unsteady conservative Euler equations for the flow relative motion with respect to a moving frame of reference. An implicit approximately-factored finite volume scheme is used to solve the resulting equations on a three-dimensional computational grid which is generated by using a modified Joukowski transformation in cross-flow planes at the grid chord stations. The scheme is applied to a delta wing undergoing pitching oscillation around a large angle of attack. The initial conditions correspond to a steady flow around a delta wing of aspect ratio of one, freestream Mach number of 0.3 and mean angle of attack of 20.5. The steady flow results are compared with those of an explicit computational scheme and the experimental data, and they are in good agreement.

Kandil, Osama A.↗

Conical Euler simulation and active suppression of delta wing rocking motion

A conical Euler code was developed to study unsteady vortex-dominated flows about rolling highly-swept delta wings, undergoing either forced or free-to-roll motions including active roll suppression. The flow solver of the code involves a multistage Runge-Kutta time-stepping scheme which uses a finite volume spatial discretization of the Euler equations on an unstructured grid of triangles. The code allows for the additional analysis of the free-to-roll case, by including the rigid-body equation of motion for its simultaneous time integration with the governing flow equations. Results are presented for a 75 deg swept sharp leading edge delta wing at a freestream Mach number of 1.2 and at alpha equal to 10 and 30 deg angle of attack. A forced harmonic analysis indicates that the rolling moment coefficient provides: (1) a positive damping at the lower angle of attack equal to 10 deg, which is verified in a free-to-roll calculation; (2) a negative damping at the higher angle of attack equal to 30 deg at the small roll amplitudes. A free-to-roll calculation for the latter case produces an initially divergent response, but as the amplitude of motion grows with time, the response transitions to a wing-rock type of limit cycle oscillation. The wing rocking motion may be actively suppressed, however, through the use of a rate-feedback control law and antisymmetrically deflected leading edge flaps. The descriptions of the conical Euler flow solver and the free-to-roll analysis are presented. Results are also presented which give insight into the flow physics associated with unsteady vortical flows about forced and free-to-roll delta wings, including the active roll suppression of this wing-rock phenomenon.

Lee, Elizabeth M.↗

On the far-field stream function condition for two-dimensional incompressible flows

The present demonstration of the usefulness of the integral series expansion of the stream function as a far-field computational boundary condition shows the method to require only a 10-percent/time-step increase in computational effort over alternative boundary conditions, in the case of implementation of unsteady problems using a direct elliptic solver. So long as the vorticity was encompassed within the computational domain, the method proved sufficiently accurate to yield virtually identical results for two widely different domains. While the integral-series condition yielded the best results for periodic flow, the Neumann condition gave comparable accuracy with less computation time for the steady-flow case despite its inability to treat periodic flow with vortex shedding.

Sa, Jong-Youb↗

A weakly nonlinear theory for wave-vortex interactions in curved channel flow

A weakly nonlinear theory is developed to study the interaction of Tollmien-Schlichting (TS) waves and Dean vortices in curved channel flow. The predictions obtained from the theory agree well with results obtained from direct numerical simulations of curved channel flow, especially for low amplitude disturbances. Some discrepancies in the results of a previous theory with direct numerical simulations are resolved.

Singer, Bart A.↗

Underwing compression vortex attenuation device

A vortex attenuation device is presented which dissipates a lift-induced vortex generated by a lifting aircraft wing. The device consists of a positive pressure gradient producing means in the form of a compression panel attached to the lower surface of the wing and facing perpendicular to the airflow across the wing. The panel is located between the midpoint of the local wing cord and the trailing edge in the chord-wise direction and at a point which is approximately 55 percent of the wing span as measured from the fuselage center line in the spanwise direction. When deployed in flight, this panel produces a positive pressure gradient aligned with the final roll-up of the total vortex system which interrupts the axial flow in the vortex core and causes the vortex to collapse.

Patterson, James C., Jr.↗

Explicit and implicit compact high-resolution shock-capturing methods for multidimensional Euler equations 1: Formulation

Two classes of explicit compact high-resolution shock-capturing methods for the multidimensional compressible Euler equations for fluid dynamics are constructed. Some of these schemes can be fourth-order accurate away from discontinuities. For the semi-discrete case their shock-capturing properties are of the total variation diminishing (TVD), total variation bounded (TVB), total variation diminishing in the mean (TVDM), essentially nonoscillatory (ENO), or positive type of scheme for 1-D scalar hyperbolic conservation laws and are positive schemes in more than one dimension. These fourth-order schemes require the same grid stencil as their second-order non-compact cousins. One class does not require the standard matrix inversion or a special numerical boundary condition treatment associated with typical compact schemes. Due to the construction, these schemes can be viewed as approximations to genuinely multidimensional schemes in the sense that they might produce less distortion in spherical type shocks and are more accurate in vortex type flows than schemes based purely on one-dimensional extensions. However, one class has a more desirable high-resolution shock-capturing property and a smaller operation count in 3-D than the other class. The extension of these schemes to coupled nonlinear systems can be accomplished using the Roe approximate Riemann solver, the generalized Steger and Warming flux-vector splitting or the van Leer type flux-vector splitting. Modification to existing high-resolution second- or third-order non-compact shock-capturing computer codes is minimal. High-resolution shock-capturing properties can also be achieved via a variant of the second-order Lax-Friedrichs numerical flux without the use of Riemann solvers for coupled nonlinear systems with comparable operations count to their classical shock-capturing counterparts. The simplest extension to viscous flows can be achieved by using the standard fourth-order compact or non-compact formula for the viscous terms.

Yee, H. C.↗

Flow Over Swept Flaps and Flap Tips

Preliminary measurements have been made of the flow over the tip of an unswept wing flap. To achieve an acceptable Reynolds number based on flap chord, the flap chord was chosen equal to the chord of the main airfoil (c = 19 in. approx. 0.48 m). The model was mounted in a 30 in. x 30 in. wind tunnel running at up to 100 ft/sec. (30 m/s): severe wind-tunnel interference was accepted, and any computations would be done using the tunnel walls as the boundaries of the computational domain. Maximum Reynolds number based on flap chord and tunnel speed was about 1.O x lO(exp 6). The grant ended before a full set of measurements could be made, but the work done so far yields a useful picture of the flow. The vortex originates at about mid-chord on the flap and rises rapidly above the chord line. It has a concentrated core, with total pressure lower than the ambient static pressure, and there is no evidence of large-scale wandering. A simple method of model construction, giving light weight and excellent surface finish, was developed.

Bradshaw, Peter↗

Automated Fluid Feature Extraction from Transient Simulations

In the past, feature extraction and identification were interesting concepts, but not required to understand the underlying physics of a steady flow field. This is because the results of the more traditional tools like iso-surfaces, cuts and streamlines were more interactive and easily abstracted so they could be represented to the investigator. These tools worked and properly conveyed the collected information at the expense of much interaction. For unsteady flow-fields, the investigator does not have the luxury of spending time scanning only one 'snap-shot' of the simulation. Automated assistance is required in pointing out areas of potential interest contained within the flow. This must not require a heavy compute burden (the visualization should not significantly slow down the solution procedure for co-processing environments like pV3). And methods must be developed to abstract the feature and display it in a manner that physically makes sense. The following is a list of the important physical phenomena found in transient (and steady-state) fluid flow: Shocks; Vortex ores; Regions of Recirculation; Boundary Layers; Wakes.

Haimes, Robert↗

Numerical Stability and Control Analysis Towards Falling-Leaf Prediction Capabilities of Splitflow for Two Generic High-Performance Aircraft Models

Aerodynamic analysis are performed using the Lockheed-Martin Tactical Aircraft Systems (LMTAS) Splitflow computational fluid dynamics code to investigate the computational prediction capabilities for vortex-dominated flow fields of two different tailless aircraft models at large angles of attack and sideslip. These computations are performed with the goal of providing useful stability and control data to designers of high performance aircraft. Appropriate metrics for accuracy, time, and ease of use are determined in consultations with both the LMTAS Advanced Design and Stability and Control groups. Results are obtained and compared to wind-tunnel data for all six components of forces and moments. Moment data is combined to form a "falling leaf" stability analysis. Finally, a handful of viscous simulations were also performed to further investigate nonlinearities and possible viscous effects in the differences between the accumulated inviscid computational and experimental data.

Charlton, Eric F.↗