Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “Stokes flow”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,027 records · Page 57

Flow in a model turbine stator

In view of the complex nature of the flowfield in the hot section of gas turbine engines, the need to predict heat transfer and flow losses, the possible appearance of separation and strong secondary flows, etc., the present effort is focusing upon a Navier-Stokes approach to the three dimensional turbine stator problem. The advantages of a full Navier-Stokes approach are clear since when combined with a suitable turbulence model these equations represent the flow and heat transfer physics. In particular, the Navier-Stokes equations accurately represent possible separated regions and regions of significant secondary flow. In addition, the Navier-Stokes approach allows representation of the entire flow field by a single set of equations, thus avoiding problems associated with representing different regions of the flow by different equations and then matching flow regions.

Buggeln, R. C.↗

Matching Inviscid/Boundary Layer Flowfields

New boundary-layer equations are developed and the solutions match all the boundary-layer properties, except for the normal velocity, exactly with the corresponding inviscid properties. The numerical procedure solves tridiagonal matrices at each marching station. As part of the solution an inviscid transpiration velocity at the surface is calculated from the boundary-layer solution. This transpiration velocity could be used as a boundary condition to calculate a new inviscid solution. If the inviscid/boundary layer solutions are iterated, then the normal velocity from the boundary layer solution will match the inviscid values exactly. Solutions are calculated for shear flows over a flat plate. Results from the present method compared well with Navier-Stokes solutions for incompressible constant shear flow and sinusoidal shear flow. Iterations of the inviscid/boundary layer solutions were not necessary. Compressible flow of an exponential shear at Mach 4 was calculated for cold, adiabatic, and hot walls. It was found that inviscid shear flows have a significant effect on skin friction and heating rates. The present method should yield accurate boundary-layer solutions at Reynolds numbers lower than the traditional boundary-layer equations.

DeJarnette, Fred R.↗

A similarity solution of the Navier-Stokes equations with wall catalysis and slip for hypersonic, low Reynolds number flow over spheres

The slip conditions for a multicomponent mixture with diffusion, wall-catalyzed atom recombination and thermal radiation are derived. The more realistic multicomponent species slip conditions are shown to be necessary for accurate merged shock layer solutions on a sphere. These slip conditions are used in a first-order similarity solution of the Navier-Stokes equations with nonequilibrium chemistry for the merged shock layer. Results of this quick numerical solution are compared with a time dependent solution around the sphere and with measured arc jet results at low Reynolds numbers. The similarity solution, unlike the time dependent solution, shows smooth radial profiles of the pressure and smooth variations of velocity slip, skin friction, temperature slip and heat transfer around the body. The present first-order similarity solution is valid up to 25 deg from the stagnation point and takes less than 1% of the computer time to run a time dependent scheme. The smaller stand-off distance obtained from the similarity solution is supported by experimental data. The measured heat flux is closer to the similarity solution than the time dependent method at the stagnation point and shows the proper variation with circumferential angle up to at least 40 deg.

Hendricks, W. L.↗

Prediction of Flows about Forebodies at High-Angle-of-Attack Dynamic Conditions

A Reynolds-average Navier Stokes method developed for rotorcraft type of flow problems is applied for predicting the forces and moments of forebody models at high-angle-of-attack dynamic conditions and for providing insight into the flow characteristics at these conditions. Wind-tunnel results from rotary testing on generic forebody models conducted by NASA Langley and DERA are used for comparison. This paper focuses on the steady-state flow problem.

vanDam, C. P.↗

A time-split finite-volume algorithm for three-dimensional flow-field simulation

A general finite-volume algorithm is developed for solving three-dimensional, time-dependent, compressible Navier-Stokes equations for high Reynolds number flows over an arbitrary geometry. This algorithm adapts MacCormack's (1982) explicit-implicit scheme to a time-split, three-dimensional finite-volume concept in a general coordinate system. It is shown that the thin-layer approximation in all three spatial directions significantly reduces the evaluation of viscous terms and allows the algorithm to solve more complicated geometries with all boundaries in two or all three directions. The calculated results using this method are found to be in good agreement with the experimental measurements of a blunt-fin induced shock wave and boundary-layer interaction problems. Observations of the existence of peak pressure, primary horseshoe and secondary vortices, and reversed supersonic zones show that computational fluid dynamics can effectively supplement the wind tunnel tests for aerodynamic design as well as for understanding basic fluid dynamics.

Hung, C. M.↗

Evolution of shock-induced pressure on a flat-face/flat-base body and afterbody flow separation

The time-dependent, compressible Reynolds-averaged, Navier-Stokes equations are applied to solve an axisymmetric supersonic flow around a flat-face/flat-base body with and without a sting support. Important transient phenomena, not yet well understood, are investigated, and the significance of the present solution to the phenomena is discussed. The phenomena, described in detail, are as follows: the transient formation of the bow and recompression shock waves; the evolution of a pressure buildup due to diffraction of the incident shock wave in the forebody and afterbody regions, including the luminosity accompanying the pressure buildup; the separation of the flow as influenced by pressure buildup; the location of the separation and the reattachment points; and the transient period of the shock-induced base flow. The important influence of the nonsteady (transient) and steady flow on the aerodynamic characteristics, radiative heat transfer, and, thus, on the survivability or safeguard problems for an aircraft fuselage, missile, or planetary entry probe at very high flight speeds is described.

Yoshikawa, K. K.↗

Viscous transonic flow computation over Space Shuttle configuration

A thin-layer Navier-Stokes code capable of predicting steady-state viscous flows is applied to the transonic flow over a Space Shuttle configuration. The code is written in the generalized coordinate system, and the grid-generation code of Fujii (1983) is used for the discretization of the flow field. The flow-field computation is done using the CRAY 1S computer at NASA Ames. The computed result is physically reasonable, even though no experimental data is available for the comparison purpose.

Fujii, K.↗

CFD Study of NACA 0018 Airfoil with Flow Control

The abilities of two different Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes codes to predict the effects of an active flow control device are evaluated. The flow control device consists of a blowing slot located on the upper surface of an NACA 0018 airfoil, near the leading edge. A second blowing slot present on the airfoil near mid-chord is not evaluated here. Experimental results from a wind tunnel test show that a slot blowing with high momentum coefficient will increase the lift of the airfoil (compared to no blowing) and delay flow separation. A slot with low momentum coefficient will decrease the lift and induce separation even at low angles of attack. Two codes, CFL3D and FUN3D, are used in two-dimensional computations along with several different turbulence models. Two of these produced reasonable results for this flow, when run fully turbulent. A more advanced transition model failed to predict reasonable results, but warrants further study using different inputs. Including inviscid upper and lower tunnel walls in the simulations was found to be important in obtaining pressure distributions and lift coefficients that best matched experimental data. A limited number of three-dimensional computations were also performed.

Eggert, Christopher A.↗

Assessment of Turbulence Models for a Single-Injector Cooling Flow

This work assesses the ability of Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes turbulence models to predict a fundamental thermal cooling flow configuration. This geometry consists of a plate with a single cooling hole positioned downstream of a heated exhaust nozzle. The linear Shear Stress Transport (SST), non-linear Quadratic Constitutive Relation (QCR), and differential SSG/LRR Reynolds Stress Model (RSM) turbulence models were investigated for flow conditions with a blowing ratio of 1.0 and 2.0. Despite significant differences in turbulence model complexity, the results miss important details observed in the data and large eddy simulation (LES). Injection penetration is over-predicted. Mixing and centerline wake recovery is too slow. Temperature predictions are worse than velocity, suggesting that perhaps the simple gradient diffusion approximation used to model the turbulent heat flux may be to blame. These observations are put into context using other studies to identify shortcomings in the modeling of both the turbulent stress and turbulent heat flux.

Film Cooling↗

Assessment of Turbulence Models for a Single-Injector Cooling Flow

This work assesses the ability of Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes turbulence models to predict a fundamental thermal cooling flow configuration. This geometry consists of a plate with a single cooling hole positioned downstream of a heated exhaust nozzle. The linear Shear Stress Transport (SST), non-linear Quadratic Constitutive Relation (QCR), and differential SSG/LRR Reynolds Stress Model (RSM) turbulence models were investigated for flow conditions with a blowing ratio of 1.0 and 2.0. Despite significant differences in turbulence model complexity, the results miss important details observed in the data and large eddy simulation (LES). Injection penetration is over-predicted. Mixing and centerline wake recovery is too slow. Temperature predictions are worse than velocity, suggesting that perhaps the simple gradient diffusion approximation used to model the turbulent heat flux may be to blame. These observations are put into context using other studies to identify shortcomings in the modeling of both the turbulent stress and turbulent heat flux.

Film Cooling↗

Iterative PNS method for attached flows with upstream influence

A stable global-iteration procedure is developed by utilizing successive sweeps, from inflow to outflow boundaries, of a parabolized Navier-Stokes code for attached, steady supersonic flow. It is shown that the procedure converges in about ten or fewer iterations, and allows for the upstream influence within the subsonic region of a supersonic boundary layer. An implicit forward difference is employed in the subsonic region to evaluate the pressure-gradient term in the streamwise momentum equation. The pressure-gradient term is normally approximated in standard single-sweep parabolized methods, suppressing the upstream influence. The iterative results obtained demonstrate the validity of the single-sweep method for weak interactions. For hypersonic viscous interaction on a flat plate at a Mach number of 5.8, it is found that the single-sweep method has a small error that vanishes as the Reynolds number of the flow is increased. However, the skin friction has an error of about 10 percent for low Reynolds numbers and for hot wall conditions. The application of this method to laminar two-dimensional flow over weak expansion and compression corners shows that the pressure and skin friction results in the vicinity of the expansion corner compare favorably with a time-dependent Navier-Stokes numerical solution.

Rakich, J. V.↗

Investigation of Compressibility Effect for Aeropropulsive Shear Flows

Rocket Based Combined Cycle (RBCC) engines operate within a wide range of Mach numbers and altitudes. Fundamental fluid dynamic mechanisms involve complex choking, mass entrainment, stream mixing and wall interactions. The Propulsion Research Center at the University of Alabama in Huntsville is involved in an on- going experimental and numerical modeling study of non-axisymmetric ejector-based combined cycle propulsion systems. This paper attempts to address the modeling issues related to mixing, shear layer/wall interaction in a supersonic Strutjet/ejector flow field. Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) solutions incorporating turbulence models are sought and compared to experimental measurements to characterize detailed flow dynamics. The effect of compressibility on fluids mixing and wall interactions were investigated using an existing CFD methodology. The compressibility correction to conventional incompressible two- equation models is found to be necessary for the supersonic mixing aspect of the ejector flows based on 2-D simulation results. 3-D strut-base flows involving flow separations were also investigated.

Balasubramanyam, M. S.↗

Development of a Navier-Stokes algorithm for parallel-processing supercomputers

An explicit flow solver, applicable to the hierarchy of model equations ranging from Euler to full Navier-Stokes, is combined with several techniques designed to reduce computational expense. The computational domain consists of local grid refinements embedded in a global coarse mesh, where the locations of these refinements are defined by the physics of the flow. Flow characteristics are also used to determine which set of model equations is appropriate for solution in each region, thereby reducing not only the number of grid points at which the solution must be obtained, but also the computational effort required to get that solution. Acceleration to steady-state is achieved by applying multigrid on each of the subgrids, regardless of the particular model equations being solved. Since each of these components is explicit, advantage can readily be taken of the vector- and parallel-processing capabilities of machines such as the Cray X-MP and Cray-2.

Swisshelm, Julie M.↗

Numerical simulation of the viscous flow fields over three-dimensional complicated geometries

A 'thin-layer' Navier-Stokes code capable of predicting steady state viscous flows is applied to complicated three-dimensional flow fields. The code is written in a generalized coordinate system, and a recently developed grid generation procedure is used for the flow-field discretization. Application is made to the vortical flow over a delta wing at high angle of attack, and the computed results are compared with experimental results. The results indicate that the present method can capture the physical phenomenon well. It is observed that a leading-edge separation vortex is formed over the wing, as is a secondary separation vortex near the leading edge. The flow field behind the trailing edge is also well described. Application is also made to the transonic flow over the Shuttle configuration. The result appears to be reasonable even though no experimental data are available for comparison. These results indicate that the present approach is capable of computing complicated three-dimensional flow fields.

Fujii, K.↗

Numerical prediction of flow in slender vortices

The slender vortex approximation was investigated using the Navier-Stokes equations written in cylindrical coordinates. It is shown that, for free vortices without external pressure gradient, the breakdown length is proportional to the Reynolds number. For free vortices with adverse pressure gradients, the breakdown length is inversely proportional to the value of its gradient. For low Reynolds numbers, the predictions of the simplified system agreed well with the ones obtained from solutions of the full Navier-Stokes equations, whereas for high Reynolds numbers, the flow became quite sensitive to pressure fluctuations; it was found that the failure of the slender vortex equations corresponded to the critical condition as identified by Benjamin (1962) for inviscid flows. The predictions obtained from the approximating system were compared with available experimental results. For low swirl, a good agreement was obtained; for high swirl, on the other hand, upstream effects on the pressure gradient produced by the breakdown bubble caused poor agreement.

Reyna, Luis G.↗

Validation of the NPARC code for nozzle afterbody flows at transonic speeds

The NPARC code, a Reynolds-averaged full Navier-Stokes code, was validated for nozzle afterbody (boatail) flow fields at transonic speeds. The flow fields about three geometries were studied: an axisymmetric nozzle with attached flow; an axisymmetric nozzle with separated flow: and a two-dimensional (rectangular) nozzle with separated flow. Three turbulence models, Baldwin-Lomax, Baldwin-Barth, and Chien k-epsilon, were used to determine the effect of turbulence model selection on the flow field solution. Static pressure distributions on the nozzle surfaces and pitot pressure measurements in the exhaust plume were examined. Results from the NPARC code compared very well with experimental data for all cases. For attached flow fields, the effect of the turbulence models showed no discernable differences. The Baldwin-Barth model yielded better results than either the Chien k-epsilon or the Baldwin-Lomax model for separated flow fields.

Debonis, James R.↗

Side-wall gas 'creep' and 'thermal stress convection' in microgravity experiments on film growth by vapor transport

While 'no-slip' boundary conditions and the Navier-Stokes equations of continuum fluid mechanics have served the vapor transport community well until now, it is pointed out that transport conditions within highly nonisothermal ampoules are such that the nonisothermal side walls 'drive' the dominant convective flow, and the familiar Stokes-Fourier-Fick laws governing the molecular fluxes of momentum, energy, and (species) mass in the 'continuum' field equations will often prove to be inadequate, even at Knudsen numbers as small as 0.001. The implications of these interesting gas kinetic phenomena under microgravity conditions, and even under 'earth-bound' experimental conditions, are outlined here, along with a tractable approach to their systematic treatment.

Rosner, Daniel E.↗

HPFTP flow diverter analysis

A computational fluid flow analysis on the flow diverter system under consideration for the Space Shuttle main engine high pressure fuel turbopump (SSME HPFTP) is proposed. A three dimensional viscous flow environment is computed to optimize the geometric configuration and location of the flow diverter system. The analysis consists of a fully turbulent cold flow calculation by Navier-Stokes equations and a Baldwin-Lomax turbulence model. The equations are numerically by a finite difference/element procedure. The results will provide the steady and unsteady pressure field and thermal environment required to assess the usefulness of the flow diverter system in deflecting the cold flow away from the hot turbine components. A geometry optimization study determines the best diverter shape and location to avoid larger thermal gradients on the rotor/stator components.

Spadley, L. W.↗