Engineering topics

Woodruff, Stephen L.

Publications and source records attributed to Woodruff, Stephen L..

6 records

NASA NTRS2018

Model-Invariant Hybrid RANS-LES Computations on Unstructured Meshes

Hybrid RANS-LES computations combine the bene ts of RANS and LES so that LES is used in regions where the accuracy of RANS deteriorates. The numerous hybrid approaches are limited by the speci cation of the LES-RANS interface, which can cause nonphysical results such as log-layer mismatch and low shear stress. The hybrid RANS-LES approach based on the concept of model invariance, mitigates these problems, enabling seamless blending of the RANS and LES regions while forming the basis for interpreting the results in the interface region. This hybrid formulation was implemented in the NASA FUN3D unstructured code and computations for ow in a channel at Reynolds number of 3300 (based on the channel half width h and the bulk in ow velocity u(infinity) were carried out. An isotropic stochastic turbulence generator was implemented to generate in ow turbulence. The present approach was able to eliminate the log-layer mismatch and predict the shear stress fairly well. Thus, the model-invariant hybrid formulation coupled with the isotropic turbulence in ow generation serves as a physically meaningful way of performing hybrid RANS-LES computations.

Sreekanth, R.↗

NASA NTRS2013

A New Formulation for Hybrid LES-RANS Computations

Ideally, a hybrid LES-RANS computation would employ LES only where necessary to make up for the failure of the RANS model to provide sufficient accuracy or to provide time-dependent information. Current approaches are fairly restrictive in the placement of LES and RANS regions; an LES-RANS transition in a boundary layer, for example, yields an unphysical log-layer shift. A hybrid computation is formulated here to allow greater control over the placement of LES and RANS regions and the transitions between them. The concept of model invariance is introduced, which provides a basis for interpreting hybrid results within an LES-RANS transition zone. Consequences of imposing model invariance include the addition of terms to the governing equations that compensate for unphysical gradients created as the model changes between RANS and LES. Computational results illustrate the increased accuracy of the approach and its insensitivity to the location of the transition and to the blending function employed.

Woodruff, Stephen L.↗

NASA NTRS2011

Coupling Turbulence in Hybrid LES-RANS Techniques

A formulation is proposed for hybrid LES-RANS computations that permits accurate computations during resolution changes, so that resolution may be changed at will in order to employ only as much resolution in each subdomain as is required by the physics. The two components of this formulation, establishing the accuracy of a hybrid model at constant resolutions throughout the RANS-to-LES range and maintaining that accuracy when resolution is varied, are demonstrated for decaying, homogeneous, isotropic turbulence.

Woodruff, Stephen L.↗

NASA NTRS2010

Coupled RANS/LES for SOFIA Cavity Acoustic Prediction

A fast but accurate approach is described for the determination of the aero-acoustic properties of a large cavity at subsonic flight speeds. This approach employs a detachededdy simulation model in the free-shear layer at the cavity opening and the surrounding boundary layer, but assumes inviscid flow in the cavity and in the far field. The reduced gridding requirements in the cavity, in particular, lead to dramatic improvements in the time required for the computation. Results of these computations are validated against wind-tunnel data. This approach will permit significantly more flight test points to be evaluated computationally in support of the Stratospheric Observatory For Infrared Astronomy flight-test program being carried out at NASA s Dryden Flight Research Center.

Woodruff, Stephen L.↗

NASA NTRS2009

Pitch-Axis Aerodynamic Parameter Identification for NASA's F-15B

As part of NASA s Intelligent Flight Control Systems program, parameter identification experiments were carried out with NASA Dryden s F-15B TN 837 aircraft. The canard control surfaces, whose movement is highly correlated with aircraft angle of attack, and the aircraft s aerodynamic instability in the pitch axis contribute to making parameter identification challenging. The equation-error method of analysis is applied to several longitudinal parameter identification maneuvers and a new approach for compensating for flight-data signal time lags is developed, which improves the accuracy and consistency of the results.

Woodruff, Stephen L.↗

NASA NTRS1996

Kolmogorov Flow in Three Dimensions

A numerical study of the long-time evolution of incompressible Navier-Stokes turbulence forced at a single long-wavelength Fourier mode, i.e., a Kolmogorov flow, has been completed. The boundary conditions are periodic in three dimensions and the forcing is effected by imposing a steady, two-dimensional, sinusoidal shear velocity which is directed along the x-direction and varies along the z-direction. A comparison with experimental data shows agreement with measured cross-correlations of the turbulent velocity components which lie in the mean-flow plane. A statistical analysis reveals that the shear-driven turbulence studied here has significant spectral anisotropy which increases with wave number.

Shebalin, John V.↗