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At least 37 records · Page 2

An alternating-direction implicit algorithm for unsteady potential flow

An implicit finite-difference scheme is presented for the efficient computation of unsteady potential flow about airfoils. The formulation uses density and the velocity potential as dependent variables and is cast in conservation form to assure the theoretically correct determination of shockwave location and speed. To enable boundary conditions to be imposed directly on the airfoil surface, a time-varying sheared-rectilinear coordinate transformation is employed. Calculated time-history solutions on a pulsating airfoil are compared with the results of other unsteady transonic codes, including a previous method of the authors. The present method is demonstrated to be unconditionally stable and to give accurate solutions with sharply resolved shocks.

Chipman, R.↗

Optimum Transonic Airfoils Based on the Euler Equations

We solve the problem of determining airfoils that approximate, in a least square sense, given surface pressure distributions in transonic flight regimes. The flow is modeled by means of the Euler equations and the solution procedure is an adjoint- based minimization algorithm that makes use of the inverse Theodorsen transform in order to parameterize the airfoil. Fast convergence to the optimal solution is obtained by means of the pseudo-time method. Results are obtained using three different pressure distributions for several free stream conditions. The airfoils obtained have given a trailing edge angle.

Iollo, Angelo↗

Lewis inverse design code (LINDES): Users manual

The method of complex characteristics and hodograph transformation for the design of shockless airfoils was introduced by Bauer, Garabedian, and Korn and has been extended by the author to design subcritical and supercritical cascades with high solidities and large inlet angles. This new capability was achieved by introducing a new conformal mapping of the hodograph domain onto an ellipse and expanding the solution in terms of Chebyshev polynomials. A new computer code, the NASA Lewis inverse design code, was developed based on this idea. This new design code is an efficient method for the design of airfoils in cascade. In particular, the design of subcritical cascades of airfoils is a very fast, robust, and versatile process. The inverse design code can be made to interact with a turbulent boundary layer calculation to obtain airfoils with no separated flows at the design condition. This report is intended to serve as a users manual for this design code. Material previously reported by the author is included here for completeness and quick access to the user. The manual contains a description of the method followed by a discussion of the design procedure and examples. The input parameters necessary to run the code are then described and their default values given. Output listings corresponding to six different blade shapes designed with the code are given, as well as the necessary input data to reproduce the computer runs. The examples have been chosen to show that a wide range of applications can be covered with the code, ranging from supercritical propeller sections to wind tunnel turning vanes that can operate with a large inlet flow angle range.

Sanz, Jose M.↗

Mass flux similarity for slotted transonic-wind-tunnel walls

A discussion of the flow field measurements obtained in the vertical plane at several stations along the centerline of slots in two different longitudinally slotted wind tunnel walls is presented. The longitudinal and transverse components of the data are then transformed using the concept of flow similarity to demonstrate the applicability of the technique to the development of the viscous shear flow along and through a slotted wall of an airfoil tunnel. Results are presented showing the performance of the similarity transformations with variations in tunnel station, Mach number, and airfoil induced curvature of the tunnel free stream.

Everhart, Joel L.↗

Viscous/inviscid interaction procedure for high-amplitude oscillating airfoils

A coupling procedure between an inviscid potential theoretical panel method and an unsteady interactive boundary layer calculation procedure has been developed for calculating unsteady airloads on oscillating airfoils in the high-incidence regime. A coordinate transformation into a time-dependent surface coordinate has been incorporated into the boundary layer code to avoid a quasi-steady treatment of the viscous flow equations in the leading edge region. The upper and lower sides of the airfoil are calculated with the complete set of unsteady equations. The interactive region of the boundary layer calculation can be straightforwardly extended over the complete upper surface of the airfoil while accounting for interaction areas in the region of strong adverse pressure gradients with incipient separation. Comparisons of sample calculations with experimental data show reasonably good agreement even for unsteady drag coefficients.

Geissler, W.↗

Two-dimensional interaction of vortices with a blade

The problem of blade-vortex interaction is studied experimentally and numerically. Vortices are generated in the laboratory by pitching an airfoil upstream of the model. LDV measurements are obtained in the neighborhood of the leading edge of the airfoil. Ensemble-averaged velocity vector fields and vorticity contours are thus constructed. A vortex is modeled numerically by a cloud of discrete ideal point vortices. The problem is solved via a Joukowski transformation. The interaction of distributed vorticity with the leading edge of the airfoil is examined.

Poling, David R.↗

On some reciprocal relations in the theory of nonstationary flows

In the theory of nonstationary flows about airfoils, the "indicial lift" function ksub1(s) of Wagner and the "alternating lift" function c(k) of Theodorsen have fundamental significance. This paper reports on some interesting relations of the nature of Fourier transforms that exist between these functions. General problems in transient flows about airfoils may be given a unified broad treatment when these functions are employed. Certain approximate results also are reported which are of notable simplicity, and an analogy with transient electrical flows is drawn.

Garrick, I E↗

A new approach to the solution of large, full matrix equations: A two-dimensional potential flow feasibility study

An approach to the solution of matrix problems resulting from integral equations of mathematical physics is presented. Based on the inherent smoothness in such equations, the problem is reformulated using a set of orthogonal basis vectors, leading to an equivalent coefficient problem which can be of lower order without significantly impairing the accuracy of the solution. This approach was evaluated using a two-dimensional Neumann problem describing the inviscid, incompressible flow over an airfoil. Two different kinds of mode functions were investigated, namely eigenfunction series and Fourier series. The method using Fourier series was found preferable. It uses all of the coefficients from a Fast Fourier Transform algorithm in an approximate method which exploits the known structure of the transformed coefficient matrix and very promising results for the flow over a realistic airfoil are obtained. On the basis of the results presented here, an order of magnitude reduction in this computer time can be expected for such problems as compared with the time for a direct matrix solution.

James, R. M.↗

Development of a numerical procedure to map a general 3-d body onto a near-circle

Conformal mapping is a classical technique utilized for solving problems in aerodynamics and hydrodynamics. Conformal mapping is utilized in the construction of grids around airfoils, engine inlets and other aircraft configurations. These shapes are transformed onto a near-circle image for which the equations of fluid motion are discretized on the mapped plane and solved numerically by utilizing the appropriate techniques. In comparison to other grid-generation techniques such as algerbraic or differential type, conformal mapping offers an analytical and accurate form even if the grid deformation is large. One of the most appealing features is that the grid can be constrained to remain orthogonal to the body after the transformation. Hence, the grid is suitable for analyzing the supersonic flow past a blunt object. The associated shock as a coordinate surface adjusts its position in the course of computation until convergence is reached. The present work applied conformal mapping to 3-D bodies with no axis of symmetry such as the Aerobraking Flight Experiment (AFE) vehicle, transforming the AFE shape onto a near-circle image. A numerical procedure and code are used to generate grids around the AFE body.

Hommel, M. J.↗

Velocity profile similarity for viscous flow development along a longitudinally slotted wind-tunnel wall

A discussion of the flow field measurements on the slot centerline of two different longitudinally slotted wind-tunnel walls is presented. The longitudinal and transverse components of these data are then transformed using the concept of flow similarity to demonstrate the applicability of the technique to the development of the viscous shear flow along and through a slotted wall. Results are presented showing the performance of the similarity transformations with variations in tunnel station, Mach number, and airfoil-induced curvature of the tunnel free stream.

Everhart, Joel L.↗

Calculating C-grids with fine and embedded mesh regions

A program for calculating a C-type mesh around airfoil like shapes is described. The Jameson/Caughey approach is used: a parabolic transformation coupled with a shearing transformation. The algebraic algorithm is capable of efficiently generating nearly orthogonal grids. A high degree of grid control is possible. The user may specify grid boundaries, number of grid lines, and location of (and spacing in) trailing edge and leading edge fine mesh areas. The capability of embedding fine mesh regions, for use with new adaptive grid techniques, is being developed. Grids generated by the program were used in Euler flow flow calculatons by W. Usab. Results superior to results calculated on previous O-type grids were obtained. Specifically, calculations converged faster using C-grids rather than 0-grids, total pressure loss spikes at the trailing edge of the airfoil were eliminated, and the Ni method converged with zero artificial smoothing for a subcritical case (resulting overall total pressure loss was then nearly zero). These improvements were attributed to higher grid orthogonality, especially at the trailing edge. The program itself is fairly straightforward. Roughly half of the 800 code lines are comment lines.

Loyd, B.↗

Analysis of two-dimensional incompressible flow past airfoils using unsteady Navier-Stokes equations

The conservative form of the unsteady Navier-Stokes equations in terms of vorticity and stream function in generalized curvilinear coordinates are used to analyze the flow structure of steady separation and unsteady flow with massive separation. The numerical method solves the discretized equations using an ADI-BGE method. The method is applied to a symmetric 12 percent thick Joukowski airfoil. A conformal clustered grid is generated; several 1-D stretching transformations are used to obtain a grid that attempts to resolve many of the multiple scales of the unsteady flow with massive separation, while maintaining the transformation metrics to be smooth and continuous in the entire flow field. Detailed numerical results are obtained for three flow configurations (1) Re = 1000, alpha = 5 deg, (2) Re = 1000, alpha = 15 deg, (3) Re = 10,000, alpha = 5 deg. No artificial dissipation was added; however, lack of a fine grid in the normal direction has presently led to results which are considered qualitative, especially for case (3).

Ghia, K. N.↗

Analysis of two-dimensional incompressible flow past airfoils using unsteady Navier-Stokes equations

The conservative form of the unsteady Navier-Stokes equations in terms of vorticity and stream function in generalized curvilinear coordinates are used to analyze the flow structure of steady separation and unsteady flow with massive separation. The numerical method solves the discretized equations using an ADI-BGE method. The method is applied to a symmetric 12 percent thick Joukowski airfoil. A conformal clustered grid is generated; several 1-D stretching transformations are used to obtain a grid that attempts to resolve many of the multiple scales of the unsteady flow with massive separation, while maintaining the transformation metrics to be smooth and continuous in the entire flow field. Detailed numerical results are obtained for three flow configurations (1) Re = 1000, alpha = 5 deg., (2) Re =1000, alpha = 15 deg., (3) Re = 10,000, alpha = 5 deg. No artificial dissipation was added; however, lack of a fine grid in the normal direction has presently led to results which are considered qualitative, especially for case (3).

Ghia, K. N.↗

An implicit algorithm for the conservative transonic full potential equation using an arbitrary mesh

A new, implicit approximate factorization (AF) algorithm designed to solve the conservative full-potential equation for the transonic flow past arbitrary airfoils has been developed. The new algorithm uses an upwind bias of the density coefficient to provide stability in supersonic regions. This allows the simple two- and three-banded matrix form of the AF scheme to be retained over the entire flow field, even in regions of supersonic flow. A numerical transformation is used to establish an arbitrary body-fitted finite-difference mesh. Airfoil pressure distributions have been computed and are in good agreement with independent results.

Holst, T. L.↗

Validation of a High-Order Prefactored Compact Scheme on Nonlinear Flows with Complex Geometries

Three benchmark problems are solved using a sixth-order prefactored compact scheme employing an explicit 10th-order filter with optimized fourth-order Runge-Kutta time stepping. The problems solved are the following: (1) propagation of sound waves through a transonic nozzle; (2) shock-sound interaction; and (3) single airfoil gust response. In the first two problems, the spatial accuracy of the scheme is tested on a stretched grid, and the effectiveness of boundary conditions is shown. The solution stability and accuracy near a shock discontinuity is shown as well. Also, 1-D nonlinear characteristic boundary conditions will be evaluated. In the third problem, a nonlinear Euler solver will be used that solves the equations in generalized curvilinear coordinates using the chain rule transformation. This work, continuing earlier work on flat-plate cascades and Joukowski airfoils, will focus mainly on the effect of the grid and boundary conditions on the accuracy of the solution. The grids were generated using a commercially available grid generator, GridPro/az3000.

Hixon, Ray↗

Analysis and design of steady transonic flow over airfoils by the method of parametric differentiation

The results reported here are based on applying the method of parametric differentiation (MPD) to transform the nonlinear differential equation governing small-disturbance transonic flow to a linear equation. Implicit approximate factorization and monotone methods were used to accelerate convergence of the linear problem by an order of magnitude over successive line over-relaxation. The relative merits of using MPD are discussed in comparison to conventional small-disturbance applications. Several MPD analyses are performed on an array of airfoils. A design procedure utilizing MPD is discussed and demonstrated for two nonlifting cases.

Halt, D. W.↗

Analysis of high-incidence separated flow past airfoils

An unsteady Navier-Stokes (NS) analysis is developed and used to carefully examine high-incidence aerodynamic separated flows past airfoils. Clustered conformal C-grids are employed for the 12 percent thick symmetric Joukowski airfoil as well as for the NACA 0012 airfoil with a sharp trailing edge. The clustering is controlled by appropriate one-dimensional stretching transformations. An attempt is made to resolve many of the dominant scales of an unsteady flow with massive separation, while maintaining the transformation metrics to be smooth and continuous in the entire flow field. A fully implicit time-marching alternating-direction implicit-block Gaussian elimination (ADI-BGE) method is employed, in which no use is made of any explicit artificial dissipation. Detailed results are obtained for massively separated, unsteady flow past symmetric Joukowski and NACA 0012 airfoils.

Chia, K. N.↗