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At least 235 records · Page 13

Large Eddy Simulation of Low-Reynolds-Number Turbulent Flow of Low-Prandtl-Number Fluid in a Tight Lattice Bundle for Assessment of Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes Turbulence Model

The MARVEL (Microreactor Applications Research Validation and Evaluation) microreactor utilizes natural circulation as core cooling mechanism and liquid metal as a primary coolant. Moreover, the reactor core has a pitch-to-diameter ratio of 1.056, which is considered a tight lattice configuration. Numerous studies have widely reported that Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) turbulence models inaccurately predict heat transfer in liquid metals and fail to capture flow pulsations that can occur within tight lattices, leading to further inaccuracies in simulation results. Therefore, evaluating the accuracy of RANS turbulence models in the thermal-hydraulic analysis of the MARVEL microreactor core is crucial for assessing reactor safety. In this study, a Large Eddy Simulation (LES) of the MARVEL microreactor core subchannel was conducted and compared with a RANS simulation to evaluate the accuracies and conservatism of the RANS model. The flow pulsation in a tight lattice predicted by LES enhanced the heat transfer, whereas the RANS model underpredicted it. Consequently, the RANS model predicted the peak cladding temperature higher than the LES model, but the discrepancy between the two approaches was not significant due to the good thermal characteristics of the liquid metal. It can be concluded that the steady-state RANS model is effective for the thermal analysis of liquid-metal-cooled MARVEL microreactor core and can provide conservative predictions from a safety analysis perspective.

21 - SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLAN↗

Simulations of Turbulent Momentum and Scalar Transport in Non-Reacting Confined Swirling Coaxial Jets

This paper presents the numerical simulations of confined three-dimensional coaxial water jets. The objectives are to validate the newly proposed nonlinear turbulence models of momentum and scalar transport, and to evaluate the newly introduced scalar APDF and DWFDF equation along with its Eulerian implementation in the National Combustion Code (NCC). Simulations conducted include the steady RANS, the unsteady RANS (URANS), and the time-filtered Navier-Stokes (TFNS); both without and with invoking the APDF or DWFDF equation. When the APDF (ensemble averaged probability density function) or DWFDF (density weighted filtered density function) equation is invoked, the simulations are of a hybrid nature, i.e., the transport equations of energy and species are replaced by the APDF or DWFDF equation. Results of simulations are compared with the available experimental data. Some positive impacts of the nonlinear turbulence models and the Eulerian scalar APDF and DWFDF approach are observed.

combustors↗

Comparison of Some RANS Solvers

We will take a look at solving the Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations that are encountered in the context of wind farm performance simulations and optimizations. We will compare some of the more popular ways to solve these equations with a focus on using iterative solvers for the linear solve. We will compare their performance and reliability to a direct solve as we scale the problem both by adding more and parallel resources and by increasing the size of the domain, both in two and three dimensions. There are many strategies that can be applied to solving the RANS equations, some are very efficient, while others are very insensitive to, for example, the Reynolds number. The first contender we will consider is the Pressure-Convection-Diffusion (PCD) preconditioner. Early results suggest that PCD is indeed a very efficient solver, in particular in two dimensions, as long as the Reynold's number remains small. Next we will try to reorder our degrees of freedom such that we can use GMRES with ILU for our linear solve. Another popular choice we will consider for solving the RANS equations is SIMPLE (and its derivatives). For all of our implementations we make use of either FEniCS or Firedrake, basing our work on both existing implementations of some of these solvers while also writing new extensions for others.

CFD↗

Toward Predictive RANS and SRS Computations of Turbulent External Flows of Practical Interest

In this work, we investigate the main challenges to prediction of turbulent external flows of practical interest with Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes equations (RANS) and Scale-Resolving Simulation (SRS) models. This represents a crucial step toward further developing and establishing these formulations so they can be confidently utilized in engineering problems without reference data. The study initiates by identifying the major challenges to prediction. A literature review is performed to illustrate their effects in RANS and SRS computations. Afterward, we evaluate the impact of the challenges to prediction by analyzing representative statistically steady and unsteady flows with prominent RANS and SRS methods. These include multiple turbulent viscosity and second-moment RANS closures, and hybrid and bridging SRS models. The results demonstrate the potential of the selected SRS models to predict engineering flows. Yet, they also show the importance of considering the challenges to prediction during the setup and conduction of numerical experiments. These can suppress the advantages of using SRS formulations. The data also indicate that only SRS models can confidently predict statistically unsteady flows. In contrast, the results demonstrate that mean-flow quantities of statistically steady flows can be efficiently calculated with RANS closures, especially second-moment closures. Among the selected SRS methods, bridging models reveal better suited for prediction due to their ability to prevent commutation errors and enable the robust evaluation of numerical and modeling errors. This last property allows the use of a new validation technique that does not require reference data.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Large Eddy Simulations of Turbulent and Buoyant Flows in Urban and Complex Terrain Areas Using the Aeolus Model

Fast and accurate predictions of the flow and transport of materials in urban and complex terrain areas are challenging because of the heterogeneity of buildings and land features of different shapes and sizes connected by canyons and channels, which results in complex patterns of turbulence that can enhance material concentrations in certain regions. To address this challenge, we have developed an efficient three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code called Aeolus that is based on first principles for predicting transport and dispersion of materials in complex terrain and urban areas. The model can be run in a very efficient Reynolds average Navier–Stokes (RANS) mode or a detailed large eddy simulation (LES) mode. The RANS version of Aeolus was previously validated against field data for tracer gas and radiological dispersal releases. As a part of this work, we have validated the Aeolus model in LES mode against two different sets of data: (1) turbulence quantities measured in complex terrain at Askervein Hill; and (2) wind and tracer data from the Joint Urban 2003 field campaign for urban topography. As a third set-up, we have applied Aeolus to simulate cloud rise dynamics for buoyant plumes from high-temperature explosions. For all three cases, Aeolus LES predictions compare well to observations and other models. These results indicate that Aeolus LES can be used to accurately simulate turbulent flow and transport for a wide range of applications and scales.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Data-driven closure modeling for hypersonic turbulent flows

The Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) equations remain a workhorse technology for simulating compressible fluid flows of practical interest. Due to model-form errors, however, RANS models can yield erroneous predictions that preclude their use on mission-critical problems. This report summarizes work performed from FY22-FY24 focused on improving RANS models for hypersonic flows using data-driven modeling and scientific machine learning. In this work we: 1. Investigate the current capabilities of RANS models in Sandia’s parallel aerodynamics and re-entry code (SPARC) for hypersonic flows with a focus on shock boundary layer interactions (SBLIs), 2. Assess several established corrections that exist in the literature aimed at improving predictions for SBLIs, 3. Develop improved models for the Reynolds stress tensor using tensor-basis neural networks, 4. Develop a neural-network-based variable turbulent Prandtl number model to reduce errors in wall heating in SBLIs. 5. Begin future investigations including employing the LIFE framework to improve wall heating predictions in SBLIs as well as the ensemble Kalman filter. We find that current RANS models in SPARC are deficient for complex SBLI flows. In particular, no current model jointly predicts wall heat flux, wall shear stress, and wall pressure with reasonable accuracy. Existing corrections help, but do not alleviate this issue altogether. The development of improved models for the Reynolds stress tensor via tensor-basis neural networks results in more predictive RANS models across a suite of low-speed and high-speed cases. For hypersonic boundary layers, the inclusion of the wall-normal Reynolds stress via TBNNs has an appreciable impact on the wall-normal momentum balance and wall quantities. However, we find that improvements to the Reynolds stress tensor do not address the over-prediction in wall heat flux in SBLIs. We find that a neural-network-based variable turbulent Prandtl number model systematically and substantially improves wall heating predictions for a range of SBLI cases.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

The Sensitivity of West African Squall Line Water Budgets to Land Cover

This study used a two-dimensional coupled land/atmosphere (cloud-resolving) model to investigate the influence of land cover on the water budgets of squall lines in the Sahel. Study simulations used the same initial sounding and one of three different land covers, a sparsely vegetated semi-desert, a grassy savanna, and a dense evergreen broadleaf forest. All simulations began at midnight and ran for 24 hours to capture a full diurnal cycle. In the morning, the latent heat flux, boundary layer mixing ratio, and moist static energy in the boundary layer exhibited notable variations among the three land covers. The broadleaf forest had the highest latent heat flux, the shallowest, moistest, slowest growing boundary layer, and significantly more moist static energy per unit area than the savanna and semi-desert. Although all simulations produced squall lines by early afternoon, the broadleaf forest had the most intense, longest-lived squall lines with 29% more rainfall than the savanna and 37% more than the semi-desert. The sensitivity of the results to vegetation density, initial sounding humidity, and grid resolution was also assessed. There were greater differences in rainfall among land cover types than among simulations of the same land cover with varying amounts of vegetation. Small changes in humidity were equivalent in effect to large changes in land cover, producing large changes in the condensate and rainfall. Decreasing the humidity had a greater effect on rainfall volume than increasing the humidity. Reducing the grid resolution from 1.5 km to 0.5 km decreased the temperature and humidity of the cold pools and increased the rain volume.

Mohr, Karen I.↗

OVERFLOW Analysis of Supersonic Retropropulsion Testing on a Blunt Mars Entry Vehicle Concept

Supersonic retropropulsion (SRP) flow over a Hypersonic Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator (HIAD) blunt-body vehicle was simulated using the Overflow Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) solver. Two nozzle configurations were tested (1E and 1F) as a subset of the seven total configurations in the Descent System Study (DSS) testing campaign. A generalized, Adaptive Mesh Refinement (AMR) shock capturing and plume refinement technique was developed and calibrated for producing automatic and unique grid systems optimized for any given testing condition. Solution independence from grid resolution was determined by successively increasing grid refinement until asymptotic convergence of the mean aerodynamic loads was observed. Overflow Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) solutions produced realistic SRP flow phenomena, including Mach disk normal shocks contained in high-thrust plumes and bow shock triple-points. Solutions for the 1E nozzle configuration were steady. Conversely, a subset of the 1F test conditions were unsteady and exhibited periodic, non-sinusoidal expansions and contractions of the streamwise-oriented plume, resulting in unsteady aerodynamic loads on the vehicle. Initial investigations into the effect of turbulence modeling fidelity demonstrated significant differences between the aerodynamic loads simulated with RANS and Detached Eddy Simulation (DES). Multiple flow mechanisms were identified as root causes of these differences, including bow shock shape augmentation and reduced entrainment due to reduced turbulence in the DES simulations. Initial comparisons of pitching moment control authority and aerodynamic drag performance between the tested nozzle configurations demonstrated that the 1E configuration may be more advantageous for the Mars Entry, Descent, and Landing (EDL) task.

Supersonic Retropropulsion↗

OVERFLOW Analysis of Supersonic Retropropulsion Testing on a Blunt Mars Entry Vehicle Concept

Supersonic retropropulsion (SRP) flow over a Hypersonic Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator (HIAD) blunt-body vehicle was simulated using the Overflow Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) solver. Two nozzle configurations were tested (1E and 1F) as a subset of the seven total configurations in the Descent System Study (DSS) testing campaign. A generalized, Adaptive Mesh Refinement (AMR) shock capturing and plume refinement technique was developed and calibrated for producing automatic and unique grid systems optimized for any given testing condition. Solution independence from grid resolution was determined by successively increasing grid refinement until asymptotic convergence of the mean aerodynamic loads was observed. Overflow Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) solutions produced realistic SRP flow phenomena, including Mach disk normal shocks contained in high-thrust plumes and bow shock triple-points. Solutions for the 1E nozzle configuration were steady. Conversely, a subset of the 1F test conditions were unsteady and exhibited periodic, non-sinusoidal expansions and contractions of the streamwise-oriented plume, resulting in unsteady aerodynamic loads on the vehicle. Initial investigations into the effect of turbulence modeling fidelity demonstrated significant differences between the aerodynamic loads simulated with RANS and Detached Eddy Simulation (DES). Multiple flow mechanisms were identified as root causes of these differences, including bow shock shape augmentation and reduced entrainment due to reduced turbulence in the DES simulations. Initial comparisons of pitching moment control authority and aerodynamic drag performance between the tested nozzle configurations demonstrated that the 1E configuration may be more advantageous for the Mars Entry, Descent, and Landing (EDL) task.

Supersonic Retropropulsion↗

Field Sensitivity Analysis of Turbulence Model Parameters for Flow Over a Wing

Reynolds-averaged-Navier-Stokes (RANS) turbulence models are a critical tool in computational-fluid-dynamics simulations of aerodynamic systems, but simulation results can be highly sensitive to RANS-model parameter choices. Sensitivity analysis can be used to quantify these impacts, and the objective of this study is to demonstrate field sensitivity analysis with respect to ten parameters in the 2003 Menter shear-stress-transport (SST) turbulence model. Here, the analysis is demonstrated for an application relevant to wind energy, namely, flow over a NACA 0015 wing at 12 degree angle of attack and a Reynolds number of 1.5 x 10 6 . We quantify sensitivity using Sobol indices and the mean-squared gradient, which are estimated using polynomial chaos and active subspace models, respectively. Our results indicate that there are substantial spatial variations in parameter sensitivities, with different sets of most-sensitive parameters near the wing, as well as in the downstream wake, consistent with the physical interpretations of the turbulence model inputs. We show that, for this particular turbulence model and flow, simultaneous dimension reduction is possible across all quantities of interest, enabling efficient exploration of model outcomes. Ultimately, this analysis provides new insights into turbulence model parameter sensitivities in incompressible flows, and also demonstrates the implementation of field sensitivity analysis for applications relevant to aerodynamics simulations.

17 WIND ENERGY↗

Noise of Embedded High Aspect Ratio Nozzles

A family of high aspect ratio nozzles were designed to provide a parametric database of canonical embedded propulsion concepts. Nozzle throat geometries with aspect ratios of 2:1, 4:1, and 8:1 were chosen, all with convergent nozzle areas. The transition from the typical round duct to the rectangular nozzle was designed very carefully to produce a flow at the nozzle exit that was uniform and free from swirl. Once the basic rectangular nozzles were designed, external features common to embedded propulsion systems were added: extended lower lip (a.k.a. bevel, aft deck), differing sidewalls, and chevrons. For the latter detailed Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations were made to predict the thrust performance and to optimize parameters such as bevel length, and chevron penetration and azimuthal curvature. Seventeen of these nozzles were fabricated at a scale providing a 2.13 inch diameter equivalent area throat." ! The seventeen nozzles were tested for far-field noise and a few data were presented here on the effect of aspect ratio, bevel length, and chevron count and penetration. The sound field of the 2:1 aspect ratio rectangular jet was very nearly axisymmetric, but the 4:1 and 8:1 were not, the noise on their minor axes being louder than the major axes. Adding bevel length increased the noise of these nozzles, especially on their minor axes, both toward the long and short sides of the beveled nozzle. Chevrons were only added to the 2:1 rectangular jet. Adding 4 chevrons per wide side produced some decrease at aft angles, but increased the high frequency noise at right angles to the jet flow. This trend increased with increasing chevron penetration. Doubling the number of chevrons while maintaining their penetration decreased these effects. Empirical models of the parametric effect of these nozzles were constructed and quantify the trends stated above." Because it is the objective of the Supersonics Project that future design work be done more by physics-based computations and less by experiments, several codes under development were evaluated against these test cases. Preliminary results show that the RANS-based code JeNo predicts the spectral directivity of the low aspect ratio jets well, but has no capability to predict the non-axisymmetry. An effort to address this limitations, used in the RANS-based code of Leib and Goldstein, overpredicted the impact of aspect ratio. The broadband shock noise code RISN, also limited to axisymmetric assumptions, did a good job of predicting the spectral directivity of underexpanded 2:1 cold jet case but was not as successful on high aspect ratio jets, particularly when they are hot. All results are preliminary because the underlying CFD has not been validated yet. An effort using a Large Eddy Simulation code by Stanford University predicted noise that agreed with experiments to within a few dB.

Bridges, James E.↗

Exploring Unstructured Mesh Adaptation for Hybrid Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes/Large Eddy Simulation

Mesh adaptation methods for the Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) equations are rapidly maturing and beginning to impact the design of aerospace vehicles. RANS turbulence modeling improvements have slowed and may stagnate. Wall-modeled large eddy simulation (LES) and hybrid RANS/LES (HRLES) may provide an improved modeling capability but require specialized expertise to construct appropriate meshes and are considered be too ex-pensive for routine practical use. The realization of the CFD Vision 2030 Study includes improving geometry linkage, mesh generation/adaptation, and turbulence modeling/resolving methods for automated management of errors and uncertainties of physics-based, predictive modeling that can set the stage for ensuring a vehicle is in compliance with a regulation or specification (i.e., certification or qualification by analysis). An exploration of mesh adaptation for HRLES is performed to document synergies and challenges between mesh adaptation and HRLES. Vortex breakdown over a delta wing is examined to show the improvement of HRLES over RANS turbulence modeling approaches. A high lift configuration is shown to demonstrate complex geometry capability. Research and development opportunities are identified to advocate for continuing investments that may allow HRLES to enter routine practical use as a tool for aerospace vehicle analysis and design.

Michael A Park↗

A review of computational methods for studying oscillating water columns – the Navier-Stokes based equation approach

This review evaluates the state-of-the-practice numerical tools used to predict the performance of Oscillating Water Column (OWC). The OWC is a widely studied Wave Energy Converter that provides a reliable form of renewable form of electricity that can potentially meet global energy needs. However, the fluid-flow phenomena affecting its hydrodynamic performance are not fully understood. While there has been the successful full-scale deployment of OWCs, various computational methods are being explored to optimize this technology. Potential flow theory is commonly used to evaluate the efficiency of OWCs; however, this assumption tends to over-predict the hydrodynamic performance. Recently, numerical studies using a diverse set of commercial, open-source, or in-house Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) using Reynolds Averaged Navier Stokes (RANS) and Large-Eddy Simulation codes show a better comparison to available experimental results but are computationally expensive. ANSYS Fluent was found to be the most widely used CFD code applied to the study of the OWCs, with a high degree of accuracy in terms of experimental validation of numerical results.

16 TIDAL AND WAVE POWER↗

Air-coupled tsunamis generated from impacts and airbursts: Our understanding before Hunga-Tonga Hunga-Ha'apai

The effort to prevent or mitigate the effects of an impact on Earth is known as planetary defense. A significant component of planetary defense research involves risk assessment. Much of our understanding of the risk from near-Earth objects comes from the geologic record in the form of impact craters, but not all asteroid impacts are crater-forming events. Small asteroids explode before reaching the surface, generating an airburst, and most impacts into the ocean do not penetrate the water to form a crater in the sea floor. The risk from these non-crater-forming ocean impacts and airbursts is difficult to quantify and represents a significant uncertainty in our assessment of the overall threat. We are currently working to better understand impact scenarios that can generate dangerous tsunamis. One of the suggested mechanisms for the production of asteroid–generated tsunamis is by direct coupling of the pressure wave to the water, analogous to the means by which a moving weather front can generate a meteotsunami. To test this hypothesis, we ran a series of airburst simulations and provided time-resolved pressure and wind profiles to use as source functions for tsunami models. We used the CTH hydrocode to model the various airburst scenarios to compare to the results of other simulations and provide time dependent boundary conditions as input to shallow-water wave propagation codes. The strongest and most destructive meteotsunamis are generated by atmospheric pressure oscillations with amplitudes of only a few hPa1 (mbar), corresponding to changes in sea level of a few cm. The resulting wave is strongest when there is a resonance between the ocean and the atmospheric forcing. A Proudman resonance takes place when the atmospheric disturbance’s translational speed (U) equals the longwave phase speed $\sqrt{gh}$ of shallow water wave. Coupling is strongest when the Froude number (Fr=U/c) is unity. A weather front propagates much slower than the speed of sound, so meteotsunamis are most common and dangerous in shallow bodies of water such as the Mediterranean Sea or Lake Michigan. By contrast, the blast wave from an airburst or crater-forming impact propagates at a speed faster than a tsunami in the deepest ocean, and a Proudman resonance cannot be achieved even though the overpressures are orders of magnitude greater. However, blast wave profiles are N-waves in which a sharp shock wave leading to overpressure is followed by a more gradual rarefaction to a much longer-duration underpressure phase. Even though the blast outruns the water wave it is forcing, the tsunami should continue to be driven by the out-of-resonance gradient associated with the suction phase, which may depend strongly on the details of the airburst or impact scenario. The open question is whether there are any conditions under which such an airburst-driven tsunami can be dangerous enough to contribute to the overall impact risk. We have also identified other potential mechanisms for airburst-generated tsunamis: 1) reaction force at the surface from the plume ejected into space, which carries significant momentum, 2) expanding toroidal vortices at the surface, which travel more slowly than the shock wave and can generate a Proudman resonance in relatively shallow ocean (such as continental shelf), and 3) steam explosion from seawater ablation by a “Type II” (Libyan Desert Glass-type) airburst in which the hot vapor jet descends to the surface. On January 15, 2022, the Hunga-Tonga Hunga-Ha’apai volcano, located approximately 60 km north of Tongatapu, the main island of Tonga, violently erupted with a powerful explosion, culminating the period of volcanic activity that started in December of 2021. This event and resulting tsunamis provided an existence proof for the air pressure wave coupling mechanism we proposed. It also suggests that it can be stronger and more significant over much greater distances than we contemplated, leading to global tsunamis associated with impact events on land as well as in the water. Large atmospheric explosions generate global Lamb waves with larger amplitudes, longer periods, and slower speeds than the local and regional blast waves we modeled prior to that event. This paper reviews our analysis and modeling of airburst-driven tsunamis prior to the 2022 Hunga-Tonga Hunga-Ha’apai tsunami, which was the subject of two presentations at the 2023 Planetary Defense Conference and is the subject of another paper currently in preparation.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Time Accurate CFD Simulations of the Orion Launch Abort Vehicle in the Transonic Regime

Significant asymmetries in the fluid dynamics were calculated for some cases in the CFD simulations of the Orion Launch Abort Vehicle through its abort trajectories. The CFD simulations were performed steady state and in three dimensions with symmetric geometries, no freestream sideslip angle, and motors firing. The trajectory points at issue were in the transonic regime, at 0 and +/- 5 angles of attack with the Abort Motors with and without the Attitude Control Motors (ACM) firing. In some of the cases the asymmetric fluid dynamics resulted in aerodynamic side forces that were large enough that would overcome the control authority of the ACMs. MSFC's Fluid Dynamics Group supported the investigation into the cause of the flow asymmetries with time accurate CFD simulations, utilizing a hybrid RANS-LES turbulence model. The results show that the flow over the vehicle and the subsequent interaction with the AB and ACM motor plumes were unsteady. The resulting instantaneous aerodynamic forces were oscillatory with fairly large magnitudes. Time averaged aerodynamic forces were essentially symmetric.

Rojahn, Josh↗

Time Accurate CFD Simulations of the Orion Launch Abort Vehicle in the Transonic Regime

Significant asymmetries in the fluid dynamics were calculated for some cases in the CFD simulations of the Orion Launch Abort Vehicle through its abort trajectories. The CFD simulations were performed steady state with symmetric boundary conditions and geometries. The trajectory points at issue were in the transonic regime, at 0 and 5 angles of attack with the Abort Motors with and without the Attitude Control Motors (ACM) firing. In some of the cases the asymmetric fluid dynamics resulted in aerodynamic side forces that were large enough that would overcome the control authority of the ACMs. MSFC s Fluid Dynamics Group supported the investigation into the cause of the flow asymmetries with time accurate CFD simulations, utilizing a hybrid RANS-LES turbulence model. The results show that the flow over the vehicle and the subsequent interaction with the AB and ACM motor plumes were unsteady. The resulting instantaneous aerodynamic forces were oscillatory with fairly large magnitudes. Time averaged aerodynamic forces were essentially symmetric.

Ruf, Joseph↗

Simulations of Turbulent Momentum and Scalar Transport in Confined Swirling Coaxial Jets

This paper presents the numerical simulations of confined three-dimensional coaxial water jets. The objectives are to validate the newly proposed nonlinear turbulence models of momentum and scalar transport, and to evaluate the newly introduced scalar APDF and DWFDF equation along with its Eulerian implementation in the National Combustion Code(NCC). Simulations conducted include the steady RANS, the unsteady RANS (URANS), and the time-filtered Navier-Stokes (TFNS); both without and with invoking the APDF or DWFDF equation.

combustors↗

Performance Characteristics of a Boundary Layer Ingesting Inlet - Distortion Tolerant Fan Through CFD Code Coupling

A method of constructing a high-fidelity simulation using two NASA CFD codes, Launch Ascent and Vehicle Aerodynamics (LAVA), which is the general-purpose solver, and a turbomachinery specific code NASA-TURBO (TURBO), will be presented. Validation of the code coupling is performed through comparison to experimental data obtained in the 2017 wind tunnel test of NASA’s Boundary Layer Ingesting Inlet - Distortion Tolerant Fan (BLI2DTF). For the simulation, the external flow field is computed by LAVA utilizing a steady-state Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) methodology. Data from LAVA is exchanged with TURBO, which simulated the propulsor utilizing an unsteady-RANS methodology. A sensitivity analysis is performed using averaged and instantaneous data transfer between the two codes, as well as varying the amount of simulation time TURBO computes between updates. The results of the coupled simulations appear to replicate the BLI2DTF experiment correctly. Static pressure taps leading into and around the nacelle, total pressure ratio and efficiency of the propulsor, and profiles of total temperature, pressure, and Mach number at the rear measurement plane, aft of the propulsor, are in good agreement with experimental data. These results provide confidence that the coupled simulation is behaving in a physically realizable manner.

CFD↗