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At least 37 records · Page 2

Fully Coupled Aeroelastic Stability Analysis of Adaptive Shape Memory Alloy Structural Technologies for Airframe Noise Reduction

This final report documents work performed by ATA Engineering, Inc., (ATA) to develop computational models and analyze the coupled fluid-structure response of two types of noise treatments applied to the leading-edge-slat component of a high-lift system typical of modern transport aircraft. The first treatment is a slat-gap filler (SGF), which closes the gap between the suction surfaces of a deployed slat and an aircraft main wing, and the second treatment is a slat-cove filler (SCF), which replaces the recirculating flow on the slat cove with a surface that promotes flow attachment. The representative airframe chosen for this work was NASA’s High-Lift Common Research Model (CRM-HL) in a baseline high-lift configuration. Superelastic shape memory alloys (SMAs) have been identified as enabling materials for these structural treatments. Since the technology elements rely upon having a highly reconfigurable structure, designs were assessed for their static aeroelastic deflection as well as their dynamic aeroelastic stability using coupled computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and nonlinear computational structural dynamics (NL-CSD) tools. Specifically, fluid-structure interaction (FSI) problems were solved computationally using the CFD solver Loci/CHEM and the NL-CSD solver Abaqus. As a part of the overall project, a similar capability was implemented using the CFD solver FUN3D coupled to Abaqus, although that work is documented in a separate report and that FSI framework was not used to analyze any of NASA’s SGF and SCF configurations. The technical approach consisted of solving for the flow field around the entire vehicle using a global CFD model, followed by extraction of relevant local subdomain data for CFD and NL-CSD co-simulations. The SGF design was analyzed using both 2D and 3D co-simulations to predict quasi-static aeroelastic deformations and to assess dynamic aeroelastic stability, whereas the SCF was analyzed in 2D only. SGF static aeroelastic response predictions focused on characterizing the deformed shape, with maximum displacements predicted to be on the order of magnitude of the technology element panel thickness. SGF dynamic aeroelastic response predictions used Partial Floquet analysis of the temporal evolution of selected nodal displacements to quantify the sign and magnitude of aeroelastic damping. Results suggest that the CRM-HL operating conditions would result in a dynamically stable response. The simulated dynamic pressure was also increased up to a factor of about four, and resulting responses suggest that predicted dynamic stability would be achieved with some margin.

Fluid Structure Interaction↗

The numerical dynamic for highly nonlinear partial differential equations

Problems associated with the numerical computation of highly nonlinear equations in computational fluid dynamics are set forth and analyzed in terms of the potential ranges of spurious behaviors. A reaction-convection equation with a nonlinear source term is employed to evaluate the effects related to spatial and temporal discretizations. The discretization of the source term is described according to several methods, and the various techniques are shown to have a significant effect on the stability of the spurious solutions. Traditional linearized stability analyses cannot provide the level of confidence required for accurate fluid dynamics computations, and the incorporation of nonlinear analysis is proposed. Nonlinear analysis based on nonlinear dynamical systems complements the conventional linear approach and is valuable in the analysis of hypersonic aerodynamics and combustion phenomena.

Lafon, A.↗

Fully Coupled Aeroelastic Stability Analysis of Adaptive Shape Memory Alloy Structural Technologies for Airframe Noise Reduction

The objective of this work is the development of computational models and analysis of the coupled fluid-structure response of a slat gap filler (SGF) noise treatment applied to the leading-edge-slat component of a high-lift system typical of modern transport aircraft. The representative airframe chosen for this work is NASA’s High-lift Common Research Model (CRM-HL) in a baseline high-lift configuration. Superelastic shape memory alloys (SMAs) have been identified as enabling materials for these structural treatments. Since the technology elements rely upon having a highly reconfigurable structure, designs must be assessed for static aeroelastic deflection as well as dynamic aeroelastic stability using coupled computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and nonlinear computational structural dynamics (NL CSD) tools. The technical approach consists of solving for the flow field around the entire vehicle using a global CFD model, followed by extraction of relevant local subdomain data for CFD and NL-CSD co-simulations. The SGF design is assessed using both 2D and 3D co-simulations to predict quasi-static aeroelastic deformations and to assess dynamic aeroelastic stability.

Fluid structure interaction↗

The coupled dynamics of fluids and spacecraft in low gravity and low gravity fluid measurement

The very large mass fraction of liquids stored on broad current and future generation spacecraft has made critical the technologies of describing the fluid-spacecraft dynamics and measuring or gauging the fluid. Combined efforts in these areas are described, and preliminary results are presented. The coupled dynamics of fluids and spacecraft in low gravity study is characterizing the parametric behavior of fluid-spacecraft systems in which interaction between the fluid and spacecraft dynamics is encountered. Particular emphasis is given to the importance of nonlinear fluid free surface phenomena to the coupled dynamics. An experimental apparatus has been developed for demonstrating a coupled fluid-spacecraft system. In these experiments, slosh force signals are fed back to a model tank actuator through a tunable analog second order integration circuit. In this manner, the tank motion is coupled to the resulting slosh force. Results are being obtained in 1-g and in low-g (on the NASA KC-135) using dynamic systems nondimensionally identical except for the Bond numbers.

Hansman, R. John↗

Application of CFD techniques toward the validation of nonlinear aerodynamic models

Applications of Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) methods to determine the regimes of applicability of nonlinear models describing the unsteady aerodynamic responses to aircraft flight motions are described. The potential advantages of computational methods over experimental methods are discussed and the concepts underlying mathematical modeling are reviewed. The economic and conceptual advantages of the modeling procedure over coupled, simultaneous solutions of the gasdynamic equations and the vehicle's kinematic equations of motion are discussed. The modeling approach, when valid, eliminates the need for costly repetitive computation of flow field solutions. For the test cases considered, the aerodynamic modeling approach is shown to be valid.

Schiff, L. B.↗

Application of CFD techniques toward the validation of nonlinear aerodynamic models

Applications of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) methods to determine the regimes of applicability of nonlinear models describing the unsteady aerodynamic responses to aircraft flight motions are described. The potential advantages of computational methods over experimental methods are discussed and the concepts underlying mathematical modeling are reviewed. The economic and conceptual advantages of the modeling procedure over coupled, simultaneous solutions of the gas dynamic equations and the vehicle's kinematic equations of motion are discussed. The modeling approach, when valid, eliminates the need for costly repetitive computation of flow field solutions. For the test cases considered, the aerodynamic modeling approach is shown to be valid.

Schiff, L. B.↗

High-fidelity Multidisciplinary Sensitivity Analysis and Design Optimization for Rotorcraft Applications

A multidisciplinary sensitivity analysis of rotorcraft simulations involving tightly coupled high-fidelity computational fluid dynamics and comprehensive analysis solvers is presented and evaluated. A sensitivity-enabled fluid dynamics solver and a nonlinear flexible multibody dynamics solver are coupled to predict aerodynamic loads and structural responses of helicopter rotor blades. A discretely consistent adjoint-based sensitivity analysis available in the fluid dynamics solver provides sensitivities arising from unsteady turbulent flows and unstructured dynamic overset meshes, while a complex-variable approach is used to compute structural sensitivities with respect to aerodynamic loads. The multidisciplinary sensitivity analysis is conducted through integrating the sensitivity components from each discipline of the coupled system. Accuracy of the coupled system is validated by conducting simulations for a benchmark rotorcraft model and comparing solutions with established analyses and experimental data. Sensitivities of lift computed by the multidisciplinary sensitivity analysis are verified by comparison with the sensitivities obtained by complex-variable simulations. Finally the multidisciplinary sensitivity analysis is applied to a constrained gradient-based design optimization for a HART-II rotorcraft configuration.

Wang, Li↗

Recent advances in Euler and Navier-Stokes methods for calculating helicopter rotor aerodynamics and acoustics

This paper outlines some recent advances in the application of the Euler and Navier-Stokes computational fluid dynamics methods to analyze nonlinear problems of helicopter aerodynamics and acoustics. A complete flowfield simulation of helicopters is currently not feasible with these methods. However, the use of the state-of-the-art numerical algorithms in conjunction with powerful supercomputers, like the Cray-2, have enabled notable progress to be made in modeling several individual components of this complex flow in hover and forward flight.

Srinivasan, G. R.↗

An Entropy-Based Approach to Nonlinear Stability

Many numerical methods used in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) incorporate an artificial dissipation term to suppress spurious oscillations and control nonlinear instabilities. The same effect can be accomplished by using upwind techniques, sometimes augmented with limiters to form Total Variation Diminishing (TVD) schemes. An analysis based on numerical satisfaction of the second law of thermodynamics allows many such methods to be compared and improved upon. A nonlinear stability proof is given for discrete scalar equations arising from a conservation law. Solutions to such equations are bounded in the L sub 2 norm if the second law of thermodynamics is satisfied in a global sense over a periodic domain. It is conjectured that an analogous statement is true for discrete equations arising from systems of conservation laws. Analysis and numerical experiments suggest that a more restrictive condition, a positive entropy production rate in each cell, is sufficient to exclude unphysical phenomena such as oscillations and expansion shocks. Construction of schemes which satisfy this condition is demonstrated for linear and nonlinear wave equations and for the one-dimensional Euler equations.

Merriam, Marshal L.↗

A Versatile Nonlinear Method for Predictive Modeling

As computational fluid dynamics techniques and tools become widely accepted for realworld practice today, it is intriguing to ask: what areas can it be utilized to its potential in the future. Some promising areas include design optimization and exploration of fluid dynamics phenomena (the concept of numerical wind tunnel), in which both have the common feature where some parameters are varied repeatedly and the computation can be costly. We are especially interested in the need for an accurate and efficient approach for handling these applications: (1) capturing complex nonlinear dynamics inherent in a system under consideration and (2) versatility (robustness) to encompass a range of parametric variations. In our previous paper, we proposed to use first-order Taylor expansion collected at numerous sampling points along a trajectory and assembled together via nonlinear weighting functions. The validity and performance of this approach was demonstrated for a number of problems with a vastly different input functions. In this study, we are especially interested in enhancing the method's accuracy; we extend it to include the second-orer Taylor expansion, which however requires a complicated evaluation of Hessian matrices for a system of equations, like in fluid dynamics. We propose a method to avoid these Hessian matrices, while maintaining the accuracy. Results based on the method are presented to confirm its validity.

nonlinear modeling↗

Current Results and Proposed Activities in Microgravity Fluid Dynamics

The Institute for Problems in Mechanics' Laboratory work in mathematical and physical modelling of fluid mechanics develops models, methods, and software for analysis of fluid flow, instability analysis, direct numerical modelling and semi-empirical models of turbulence, as well as experimental research and verification of these models and their applications in technological fluid dynamics, microgravity fluid mechanics, geophysics, and a number of engineering problems. This paper presents an overview of the results in microgravity fluid dynamics research during the last two years. Nonlinear problems of weakly compressible and compressible fluid flows are discussed.

Polezhaev, V. I.↗

A parallel algorithm for nonlinear convection-diffusion equations

A parallel algorithm for the efficient solution of nonlinear time-dependent convection-diffusion equations with small parameter on the diffusion term is presented. The method is based on a physically motivated domain decomposition that is dictated by singular perturbation analysis. The analysis is used to determine regions where certain reduced equations may be solved in place of the full equation. The method is suitable for the solution of problems arising in the simulation of fluid dynamics. Experimental results for a nonlinear equation in two-dimensions are presented.

Scroggs, Jeffrey S.↗

Some rotorcraft applications of computational fluid dynamics

The growing application of computational aerodynamics to nonlinear rotorcraft problems is outlined, with particular emphasis on the development of new methods based on the Euler and thin-layer Navier-Stokes equations. Rotor airfoil characteristics can now be calculated accurately over a wide range of transonic flow conditions. However, unsteady 3-D viscous codes remain in the research stage, and a numerical simulation of the complete flow field about a helicopter in forward flight is not now feasible. Nevertheless, impressive progress is being made in preparation for future supercomputers that will enable meaningful calculations to be made for arbitrary rotorcraft configurations.

Mccroskey, W. J.↗

Some rotorcraft applications of computational fluid dynamics

The growing application of computational aerodynamics to nonlinear rotorcraft problems is outlined, with particular emphasis on the development of new methods based on the Euler and thin-layer Navier-Stokes equations. Rotor airfoil characteristics can now be calculated accurately over a wide range of transonic flow conditions. However, unsteady 3-D viscous codes remain in the research stage, and a numerical simulation of the complete flow field about a helicopter in forward flight is not now feasible. Nevertheless, impressive progress is being made in preparation for future supercomputers that will enable meaningful calculations to be made for arbitrary rotorcraft configurations.

Mccroskey, W. J.↗

Dynamical approach study of spurious steady-state numerical solutions of nonlinear differential equations. I - The dynamics of time discretization and its implications for algorithm development in computational fluid dynamics

Spurious stable as well as unstable steady state numerical solutions, spurious asymptotic numerical solutions of higher period, and even stable chaotic behavior can occur when finite difference methods are used to solve nonlinear differential equations (DE) numerically. The occurrence of spurious asymptotes is independent of whether the DE possesses a unique steady state or has additional periodic solutions and/or exhibits chaotic phenomena. The form of the nonlinear DEs and the type of numerical schemes are the determining factor. In addition, the occurrence of spurious steady states is not restricted to the time steps that are beyond the linearized stability limit of the scheme. In many instances, it can occur below the linearized stability limit. Therefore, it is essential for practitioners in computational sciences to be knowledgeable about the dynamical behavior of finite difference methods for nonlinear scalar DEs before the actual application of these methods to practical computations. It is also important to change the traditional way of thinking and practices when dealing with genuinely nonlinear problems. In the past, spurious asymptotes were observed in numerical computations but tended to be ignored because they all were assumed to lie beyond the linearized stability limits of the time step parameter delta t. As can be seen from the study, bifurcations to and from spurious asymptotic solutions and transitions to computational instability not only are highly scheme dependent and problem dependent, but also initial data and boundary condition dependent, and not limited to time steps that are beyond the linearized stability limit.

Yee, H. C.↗

Variants and extensions of a fast direct numerical cauchy-riemann solver, with illustrative applications

Revised and extended versions of a fast, direct (noniterative) numerical Cauchy-Riemann solver are presented for solving finite difference approximations of first order systems of partial differential equations. Although the difference operators treated are linear and elliptic, one significant application of these extended direct Cauchy-Riemann solvers is in the fast, semidirect (iterative) solution of fluid dynamic problems governed by the nonlinear mixed elliptic-hyperbolic equations of transonic flow. Different versions of the algorithms are derived and the corresponding FORTRAN computer programs for a simple example problem are described and listed. The algorithms are demonstrated to be efficient and accurate.

Martin, E. D.↗