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At least 1,369 records · Page 76

MRI-Based Computational Fluid Dynamics in Experimental Vascular Models: Toward the Development of an Approach for Prediction of Cardiovascular Changes During Prolonged Space Missions

A priority of NASA is to identify and study possible risks to astronauts health during prolonged space missions [l]. The goal is to develop a procedure for a preflight evaluation of the cardiovascular system of an astronaut and to forecast how it will be affected during the mission. To predict these changes, a computational cardiovascular model must be constructed. Although physiology data can be used to make a general model, a more desirable subject-specific model requires anatomical, functional, and flow data from the specific astronaut. MRI has the unique advantage of providing images with all of the above information, including three-directional velocity data which can be used as boundary conditions in a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) program [2,3]. MRI-based CFD is very promising for reproduction of the flow patterns of a specific subject and prediction of changes in the absence of gravity. The aim of this study was to test the feasibility of this approach by reconstructing the geometry of MRI-scanned arterial models and reproducing the MRI-measured velocities using CFD simulations on these geometries.

Spirka, T. A.↗

CFD Computation of Broadband Fan Interaction Noise

In this study, a 3-D, unsteady, Reynolds Averaged Navier Stokes CFD code coupled to an acoustic calculation is used to predict the contribution of the exit guide vanes to broadband fan noise. The configuration investigated is that corresponding to the NASA Source Diagnostic Test (SDT) 22-in fan rig. Then an acoustic model introduced by Nallasamy which is based on 2-D strip theory is used to compute the broadband rotor-stator interaction noise. One configuration from the SDT matrix is considered here: the fan speed correlating to approach, and outlet guide vane count designed for cut-off of the blade passage frequency. Thus, in the chosen configuration, there are 22 rotor blades and 54 stator blades. The stators are located 2.5 tip chords downstream of the rotor trailing edge. The RANS computations are used to obtain the spectra of the unsteady surface pressure on the exit guide vanes. This surface pressure is then integrated together with the Green's function for and infinite cylindrical duct to obtain the acoustic field. The results from this investigation validate the use of the CFD code along with the acoustic model for broadband fan noise predictions. The validation enables future investigations such as the determination of rotor tip clearance and stator solidity effects on fan rotor-stator interaction noise.

Grace, Sheryl M.↗

Further Validation of a CFD Code for Calculating the Performance of Two-Stage Light Gas Guns

Earlier validations of a higher-order Godunov code for modeling the performance of two-stage light gas guns are reviewed. These validation comparisons were made between code predictions and experimental data from the NASA Ames 1.5" and 0.28" guns and covered muzzle velocities of 6.5 to 7.2 km/s. In the present report, five more series of code validation comparisons involving experimental data from the Ames 0.22" (1.28" pump tube diameter), 0.28", 0.50", 1.00" and 1.50" guns are presented. The total muzzle velocity range of the validation data presented herein is 3 to 11.3 km/s. The agreement between the experimental data and CFD results is judged to be very good. Muzzle velocities were predicted within 0.35 km/s for 74% of the cases studied with maximum differences being 0.5 km/s and for 4 out of 50 cases, 0.5 - 0.7 km/s.

Ballistic Range↗

Numerical study of the X-31 high angle-of-attack flow characteristics

The application of CFD methods to high-angle-of-attack flight regimes is studied. The X-31 configuration was chosen as the model due to its inherent designed high-angle-of-attack characteristics and capabilities, the existence of a wind tunnel database, and the ongoing flight test program. The flow characteristics of the X-31 at high angle-of-attack are presented and the CFD capability for studying the effects of canard deflection on aerodynamic control during poststall is revealed.

Yeh, David T.↗

Heated Supersonic Axisymmetric Jet Cases for the NASA Turbulence Modeling Resource

This paper will describe three new supersonic jet cases for the NASA Turbulence Modeling Resource (TMR). These cases were taken from the 6th AIAA Propulsion Aerodynamics Workshop (PAW) nozzle test problem, which utilized data taken at NASA GRC consisting of non-intrusive measurements of jet plume velocities and temperatures, including both mean values and turbulence statistics. The three jet cases all used a Mach 1.63 axisymmetric nozzle: A heated jet for each at on-design conditions, a temperature-matched on-design condition at Mach 1.63, and an off-design heated condition for the Mach 1.63 nozzle. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) solutions are obtained using three established Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) codes: Wind-US, FUN3D, and Vulcan, all using the Menter Shear Stress Transport (SST) k-ω turbulence model. The NASA TMR requires at least two CFD codes yielding essentially identical results to certify that the approaches are verified, that is - providing solutions that may not necessarily provide close comparisons with experimental data, but solve the posed CFD equations as intended.

nozzle↗

Computational fluid dynamics research at the United Technologies Research Center requiring supercomputers

An overview of research activities at the United Technologies Research Center (UTRC) in the area of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is presented. The requirement and use of various levels of computers, including supercomputers, for the CFD activities is described. Examples of CFD directed toward applications to helicopters, turbomachinery, heat exchangers, and the National Aerospace Plane are included. Helicopter rotor codes for the prediction of rotor and fuselage flow fields and airloads were developed with emphasis on rotor wake modeling. Airflow and airload predictions and comparisons with experimental data are presented. Examples are presented of recent parabolized Navier-Stokes and full Navier-Stokes solutions for hypersonic shock-wave/boundary layer interaction, and hydrogen/air supersonic combustion. In addition, other examples of CFD efforts in turbomachinery Navier-Stokes methodology and separated flow modeling are presented. A brief discussion of the 3-tier scientific computing environment is also presented, in which the researcher has access to workstations, mid-size computers, and supercomputers.

Landgrebe, Anton J.↗

HLPW-5: Overview and Workshop Summary

The Fifth AIAA CFD High-Lift Prediction Workshop was held with the goal of assessing the numerical prediction capability of current-generation computational fluid dynamics (CFD) technology for swept, medium/high-aspect-ratio wings in high-lift configurations. A key aspect of this endeavor was the use of Technology Focus Groups (TFG), which included both mesh generation and flow-solver experts working together to accelerate advancements for their particular CFD methodology, by addressing key questions of importance prior to the workshop. The high-lift version of the NASA Common Research Model (CRM-HL) configuration was the focus of this workshop, and was used for three unique test cases. Wind-tunnel data were available for comparison for one of the test cases. Altogether, 365 datasets of CFD results were submitted by 47 teams, with 41 teams contributing to the multiple configurations of Case 1, 40 to Case 2, and 18 to Case 3. This paper provides a high-level summary of the results and conclusions from the workshop. As concluded from past workshops, fixed-grid Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes methods continued to be inaccurate and inconsistent for high-lift flows near maximum lift. However, application of mesh-adaptation technology helped to achieve improved consistency. Scale-resolving methods appeared most promising for predicting high-lift flow physics, particularly at maximum lift. Best practices for these methods were refined over the course of the workshop and new challenges were identified.

Adam M Clark↗

A 3-D CFD Analysis of the Space Shuttle RSRM With Propellant Fins @ 1 sec. Burn-Back

In this study 3-D Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) runs have been made for the Space Shuttle RSRM using 2 different grids and 4 different turbulent models, which were the Standard KE, the RNG KE, the Realizable KE, and the Reynolds stress model. The RSRM forward segment consists of 11 fins. By taking advantage of the forward fin symmetry only half of one fin along the axis had to be used in making the grid. This meant that the 3-D model consisted of a pie slice that encompassed 1/22nd of the motor circumference and went along the axis of the entire motor. The 3-D flow patterns in the forward fin region are of particular interest. Close inspection of these flow patterns indicate that 2 counter-rotating axial vortices emerge from each submerged solid propellant fin. Thus, the 3-D CFD analysis allows insight into complicated internal motor flow patterns that are not available from the simpler 2-D axi-symmetric studies. In addition, a comparison is made between the 3-D bore pressure drop and the 2-D axi-symmetric pressure drop.

Morstadt, Robert A.↗

Computation of transonic separated wing flows using an Euler/Navier-Stokes zonal approach

A computer program called Transonic Navier Stokes (TNS) has been developed which solves the Euler/Navier-Stokes equations around wings using a zonal grid approach. In the present zonal scheme, the physical domain of interest is divided into several subdomains called zones and the governing equations are solved interactively. The advantages of the Zonal Grid approach are as follows: (1) the grid for any subdomain can be generated easily; (2) grids can be, in a sense, adapted to the solution; (3) different equation sets can be used in different zones; and, (4) this approach allows for a convenient data base organization scheme. Using this code, separated flows on a NACA 0012 section wing and on the NASA Ames WING C have been computed. First, the effects of turbulence and artificial dissipation models incorporated into the code are assessed by comparing the TNS results with other CFD codes and experiments. Then a series of flow cases is described where data are available. The computed results, including cases with shock-induced separation, are in good agreement with experimental data. Finally, some futuristic cases are presented to demonstrate the abilities of the code for massively separated cases which do not have experimental data.

Kaynak, Uenver↗

An improved three-dimensional aerodynamics model for helicopter airloads prediction

The importance of unsteady aerodynamic effects due to rotor blade motion is demonstrated for a helicopter in high-speed forward flight. These unsteady effects are modeled as surface boundary conditions to a three-dimensional, unsteady Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) code called the Full-Potential Rotor Code (FPR). These boundary conditions cause significant changes in the computed lift and pitching moment at the front and rear of the rotor disk. Airloads from the modified FPR code are then iteratively coupled with the helicopter comprehensive code, CAMRAD/JA. Computed airloads show good agreement with flight-test data when lift values from the FPR code are used in the coupled calculation. However, the computed airloads from CAMRAD/JA along also show good agreement with the experimental data. Thus for this case one cannot demonstrate a significant improvement in computed airloads with the hybrid coupled scheme. The addition of the pitching moment values from the FPR code into the CAMRAD/JA calculation slows down the overall iterative convergence and does not yield any improvement in the final results.

Strawn, Roger C.↗

CFD validation experiments at McDonnell Aircraft Company

Information is given in viewgraph form on computational fluid dynamics (CFD) validation experiments at McDonnell Aircraft Company. Topics covered include a high speed research model, a supersonic persistence fighter model, a generic fighter wing model, surface grids, force and moment predictions, surface pressure predictions, forebody models with 65 degree clipped delta wings, and the low aspect ratio wing/body experiment.

Verhoff, August↗

Turbulence modeling for hypersonic flight

The objective of the proposed work is to continue to develop, verify, and incorporate the baseline two-equation turbulence models, which account for the effects of compressibility at high speeds, into a three-dimensional Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) code. Additionally, we plan to provide documented descriptions of the models and their numerical procedures so that they can be implemented into the NASP CFD codes.

Bardina, Jorge E.↗

Numerical investigations in three-dimensional internal flows

In the present reporting period, the 3D STUFF code was used to solve the underbody flow for the waverider configuration vehicle. In order to start the space-marched version of the code, the time-marched version (TUFF) was used to solve the forward portion of the underside of the forebody flowfield. A grid was generated which went from the tip of the nose to the location of the cowl lip. This includes all of the inlet ramp system. Previous indications were that three-dimensional effects could be expected on the ramps of such an aircraft. For purposes of the present study, no sidewalls were assumed. The sidewalls were eliminated to simplify the calculations and to show the potential effects of three-dimensional flow in the absence of a full sidewall. Further, this flow was also analyzed using the newly released OVERFLOW code and comparisons between the two codes were made. In addition to these 3D calculations, 2D calculations using the OVERFLOW code were also obtained for the Mach 5 inlet model in this reporting period. Comparisons between the experimental data, previous computational fluid dynamics (CFD) results and those from OVERFLOW were made.

Rose, William C.↗

Preliminary identification of buffet problems in high speed civil transport

In the present study, some effort is made to identify whether empennage buffet is a relevant factor in the design and operation of the High Speed Civil Transport (HSCT). Based on some results of the only operational supersonic transport, Concorde and the innumerable studies that exist on the tail buffet of high performance airplanes, CFD analyses on the HSCT as well as low speed wind tunnel tests on models, it appears as though buffet will be a factor that needs attention in the proper design of empennage structure. Utilizing the existing empirical relation between the reduced frequency of the leading edge vortices and the geometric parameters, it is estimated that the characteristic frequencies of the vortices from the wing cranks are in the range of certain fundamental frequencies of the wing-fuselage-empennage structure. Buffet is believed to be critical during take-off, climb, descent and landing. Computational and experimental data available in open literature indicate coherent vortex flow structure in the empennage region at supersonic cruise speeds. This raises further concern on the fatigue life of the empennage structure. Three second generation supersonic transport designs taken from open literature are briefly compared with the 'empennage buffet' in mind. Future research efforts relating to buffet studies on the HSCT are summarized. A bibliography pertaining to the present research, including relevant studies on the first generation supersonic transport is presented. The effect of rounded wing leading edges on the present frequency estimates needs further study. The effect of engine exhaust on the flow field in the empennage region also needs further study.

Ravindra, Krishnaswamy↗

Turbulence modeling

The objective of this work is to develop, verify, and incorporate the baseline two-equation turbulence models which account for the effects of compressibility into the three-dimensional Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) code and to provide documented descriptions of the models and their numerical procedures so that they can be implemented into 3-D CFD codes for engineering applications.

Bardina, Jorge E.↗

A Combined Geometric Approach for Computational Fluid Dynamics on Dynamic Grids

A combined geometric approach for computational fluid dynamics is presented for the analysis of unsteady flow about mechanisms in which its components are in moderate relative motion. For a CFD analysis, the total dynamics problem involves the dynamics of the aspects of geometry modeling, grid generation, and flow modeling. The interrelationships between these three aspects allow for a more natural formulation of the problem and the sharing of information which can be advantageous to the computation of the dynamics. The approach is applied to planar geometries with the use of an efficient multi-block, structured grid generation method to compute unsteady, two-dimensional and axisymmetric flow. The applications presented include the computation of the unsteady, inviscid flow about a hinged-flap with flap deflections and a high-speed inlet with centerbody motion as part of the unstart / restart operation.

Slater, John W.↗

CFD Code Development for Combustor Flows

During the lifetime of this grant, work has been performed in the areas of model development, code development, code validation and code application. For model development, this has included the PDF combustion module, chemical kinetics based on thermodynamics, neural network storage of chemical kinetics, ILDM chemical kinetics and assumed PDF work. Many of these models were then implemented in the code, and in addition many improvements were made to the code, including the addition of new chemistry integrators, property evaluation schemes, new chemistry models and turbulence-chemistry interaction methodology. Validation of all new models and code improvements were also performed, while application of the code to the ZCET program and also the NPSS GEW combustor program were also performed. Several important items remain under development, including the NOx post processing, assumed PDF model development and chemical kinetic development. It is expected that this work will continue under the new grant.

Norris, Andrew↗

CFD: A Castle in the Sand?

The computational simulation community is not routinely publishing independently verifiable tests to accompany new models or algorithms. A survey reveals that only 22% of new models published are accompanied by tests suitable for independently verifying the new model. As the community develops larger codes with increased functionality, and hence increased complexity in terms of the number of building block components and their interactions, it becomes prohibitively expensive for each development group to derive the appropriate tests for each component. Therefore, the computational simulation community is building its collective castle on a very shaky foundation of components with unpublished and unrepeatable verification tests. The computational simulation community needs to begin publishing component level verification tests before the tide of complexity undermines its foundation.

Kleb, Bil↗