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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 361 records · Page 20

Application of second-order-accurate Total Variation Diminishing (TVD) schemes to the Euler equations in general geometries

A one-parameter family of explicit and implicit second-order-accurate, entropy satisfying, total variation diminishing (TVD) schemes was developed by Harten. These TVD schemes were the property of not generating spurious oscillations for one-dimensional nonlinear scalar hyperbolic conservation laws and constant coefficient hyperbolic systems. Application of these methods to one- and two-dimensional fluid flows containing shocks (in Cartesian coordinates) yields highly accurate nonoscillatory numerical solutions. The goal of this work is to expand these methods to the multidimensional Euler equations in generalized coordinate systems. Some numerical results of shock waves impinging on cylindrical bodies are compared with MacCormack's method.

Yee, H. C.↗

Mesh generation by conformal and quasiconformal mappings

It is pointed out that many recent advances in the finite-difference solution of elliptic equations have been limited to regions whose boundary contours coincide with coordinate lines of the Cartesian coordinate system. The reason for this is related to the fact that in the case of an arbitrary curvilinear coordinate system the original equation becomes much more complex. However, there is no added complexity if an orthogonal coordinate system is generated from a conformal mapping. In the present investigation, a finite difference method developed for the construction of conformal mappings has been generalized to construct quasi-conformal mappings. It is expected that the use of more sophisticated numerical algorithms could lead to improvements in both speed and accuracy. Quasi-conformal mappings have applications not only in the solution of elliptic equations but also in other areas such as orthogonal mesh generation on surfaces and the solution of certain fluid flow problems.

Mastin, C. W.↗

General curvilinear coordinate systems

The basic ideas of the construction and use of numerically-generated boundary-fitted coordinate systems for the numerical solution of partial differential equations are discussed. With such coordinate systems, all computation can be done on a fixed square grid in the rectangular transformed region regardless of the shape or movement of the physical boundaries. A number of different types of configurations for the transformed region and the basic transformation relations from a cartesian system to a general curvilinear system are given. The material of this paper is applicable to all types of coordinate system generation.

Thompson, J. P.↗

High resolution applications of the Osher upwind scheme for the Euler equations

The 'Osher' scheme was introduced by Osher (1981). It represents an upwind finite-difference method for hyperbolic systems of conservation laws, including the Euler equations. In studies conducted by Osher (1981) and Osher and Solomon (1982), the method was applied to the nonisentropic form of the Euler equations in one dimension and the isentropically restricted form in two spatial dimensions, both in Cartesian coordinates. Chakravarthy and Osher (1982) have shown an approach for extending the Osher scheme to the Euler equations written for general geometries, taking into account the use of mappings to arbitrary curvilinear coordinate systems. The present investigation is concerned with the high resolution extension of the Osher scheme to second-order accuracy. Results are presented for several example problems, giving attention to quasi-one-dimensional Laval nozzle flow, a one-dimensional shock tube problem, and supersonic flow over a cylinder.

Chakravarthy, S. R.↗

A method for solving the transonic full-potential equation for general configurations

A method is developed for solving the full-potential equation for two-dimensional and axisymmetric flow which retains the grid and boundary condition simplicity of the transonic small-disturbance codes. The method is based on a finite-volume formulation of the mass conservation equation in a Cartesian coordinate system, and is an extension of the method of Purvis and Burkhalter (1979). This finite-volume approach, combined with the simple boundary treatment, is shown to result in a highly robust method applicable to a wide range of geometries and flow conditions. The accuracy of the method is demonstrated for general geometries in two-dimensional and axisymmetric flows. The use of this method results in significant gains in convergence rate over the vertical-line over-relaxation scheme by incorporating an AF2-type algorithm (Ballhaus et al., 1978). It is suggested that the simplicity of this method shold allow a relatively easy extension to complex geometries in three-dimensional flows, and complex two-dimensional configurations such as multielement airfoils should be amenable to this method.

Wedan, B.↗

A zonal approach for the steady transonic simulation of inviscid rotational flow

A finite difference zonal method is developed to compute steady inviscid transonic flow by coupling a semi-flux split form of the Euler equations in a vorticity producing zone with a zone of scalar and vector (i.e., dual) potential equations. The dual potential equations permit vorticity convection, but not production, and are efficiently solved as an iteratively decoupled set of scalar equations. Zonal results presented for a nonlifting biconvex airfoil on a stretched Cartesian grid show substantial savings in CPU time compared to solving the semi-flux split Euler equations alone. The dual potential equations also provide an alternate way of treating potential flows with circulation. This has been demonstrated by computing a subcritical flow over a lifting airfoil using generalized curvilinear coordinates.

Chaderjian, N. M.↗

TAS: A Transonic Aircraft/Store flow field prediction code

A numerical procedure has been developed that has the capability to predict the transonic flow field around an aircraft with an arbitrarily located, separated store. The TAS code, the product of a joint General Dynamics/NASA ARC/AFWAL research and development program, will serve as the basis for a comprehensive predictive method for aircraft with arbitrary store loadings. This report described the numerical procedures employed to simulate the flow field around a configuration of this type. The validity of TAS code predictions is established by comparison with existing experimental data. In addition, future areas of development of the code are outlined. A brief description of code utilization is also given in the Appendix. The aircraft/store configuration is simulated using a mesh embedding approach. The computational domain is discretized by three meshes: (1) a planform-oriented wing/body fine mesh, (2) a cylindrical store mesh, and (3) a global Cartesian crude mesh. This embedded mesh scheme enables simulation of stores with fins of arbitrary angular orientation.

Thompson, D. S.↗

Further development of XTRAN3S computer program

This report describes modifications and enhancements to XTRAN3S, a computer program for aerodynamic, static aeroelastic, and dynamic aeroelastic analysis of three-dimensional wings in the transonic speed regime. Modifications to the program include incorporation of a viscous boundary layer, modified coefficient and generalized force integration, direct input of airfoil surface coordinates and slopes, variable dimensions of computational arrays and a modified grid mapping transformation to improve computational stability for highly swept and tapered planforms. Results obtained with the modified program are included. Modifications discussed but not incorporated include a state matrix integration method, enhanced vectorization, and use of a cartesian physical mesh.

Borland, C. J.↗

Solution of 3-dimensional time-dependent viscous flows. Part 2: Development of the computer code

There is considerable interest in developing a numerical scheme for solving the time dependent viscous compressible three dimensional flow equations to aid in the design of helicopter rotors. The development of a computer code to solve a three dimensional unsteady approximate form of the Navier-Stokes equations employing a linearized block emplicit technique in conjunction with a QR operator scheme is described. Results of calculations of several Cartesian test cases are presented. The computer code can be applied to more complex flow fields such as these encountered on rotating airfoils.

Weinberg, B. C.↗

Tortuosity of lightning return stroke channels

Data obtained from photographs of lightning are presented on the tortuosity of return stroke channels. The data were obtained by making piecewise linear fits to the channels, and recording the cartesian coordinates of the ends of each linear segment. The mean change between ends of the segments was nearly zero in the horizontal direction and was about eight meters in the vertical direction. Histograms of these changes are presented. These data were used to create model lightning channels and to predict the electric fields radiated during return strokes. This was done using a computer generated random walk in which linear segments were placed end-to-end to form a piecewise linear representation of the channel. The computer selected random numbers for the ends of the segments assuming a normal distribution with the measured statistics. Once the channels were simulated, the electric fields radiated during a return stroke were predicted using a transmission line model on each segment. It was found that realistic channels are obtained with this procedure, but only if the model includes two scales of tortuosity: fine scale irregularities corresponding to the local channel tortuosity which are superimposed on large scale horizontal drifts. The two scales of tortuosity are also necessary to obtain agreement between the electric fields computed mathematically from the simulated channels and the electric fields radiated from real return strokes. Without large scale drifts, the computed electric fields do not have the undulations characteristics of the data.

Levine, D. M.↗

Three-dimensional transonic potential flow about complex 3-dimensional configurations

An analysis has been developed and a computer code written to predict three-dimensional subsonic or transonic potential flow fields about lifting or nonlifting configurations. Possible condfigurations include inlets, nacelles, nacelles with ground planes, S-ducts, turboprop nacelles, wings, and wing-pylon-nacelle combinations. The solution of the full partial differential equation for compressible potential flow written in terms of a velocity potential is obtained using finite differences, line relaxation, and multigrid. The analysis uses either a cylindrical or Cartesian coordinate system. The computational mesh is not body fitted. The analysis has been programmed in FORTRAN for both the CDC CYBER 203 and the CRAY-1 computers. Comparisons of computed results with experimental measurement are presented. Descriptions of the program input and output formats are included.

Reyhner, T. A.↗

An efficient approximate factorization implicit scheme for the equations of gasdynamics

An efficient implicit finite-difference algorithm for the gas dynamic equations utilizing matrix reduction techniques is presented. A significant reduction in arithmetic operations is achieved while maintaining the same favorable stability characteristics and generality found in the Beam and Warming approximate factorization algorithm. Steady-state solutions to the conservative Euler equations in generalized coordinates are obtained for transonic flows about a NACA 0012 airfoil. The theoretical extension of the matrix reduction technique to the full Navier-Stokes equations in Cartesian coordinates is presented in detail. Linear stability, using a Fourier stability analysis, is demonstrated and discussed for the one-dimensional Euler equations. It is shown that the method offers advantages over the conventional Beam and Warming scheme and can retrofit existing Beam and Warming codes with minimal effort.

Barth, T. J.↗

Analysis of MSFC ground-based Doppler lidar data

Analysis of data collected during the participation of the MSFC 10.6 micron pulsed Doppler lidar system (DLS) in the Joint Airport Weather Studies (JAWS) experiment is concluded. Observations from more than one Doppler lidar are combined to derive the three-dimensional Cartesian wind field. A comparison of radial velocity estimates at low elevations made by the MSFC lidar and the NCAR 5.5 cm Doppler radar revealed a substantial r.m.s. difference of 3 mls, and a mean difference of lmls. Detailed measurements of the horizontal wind fields and tropospheric backscattering were acquired at MSFC. These data are useful for defining future flight experiments, instrument design, and satellite DLS development.

Rothermel, J.↗

A comparative study of the parabolized Navier-Stokes code using various grid-generation techniques

The parabolized Navier-Stokes (PNS) equations are used to calculate the flow-field characteristics about the hypersonic research aircraft X-24C. A comparison of the results obtained using elliptic, hyperbolic, and algebraic grid generators is presented. The outer bow shock is treated as a sharp discontinuity, and the discontinuities within the shock layer are captured. Surface pressures and heat-transfer results at angles of attack of 6 deg and 20 deg, obtained using the three grid generators, are compared. The PNS equations are marched downstream over the body in both Cartesian and cylindrical base coordinate systems, and the results are compared. A robust marching procedure is demonstrated by successfully using large marching step sizes with the implicit shock fitting procedure. A correlation is found between the marching step size, Reynolds number, and the angle of attack at fixed values of smoothing and stability coefficients for the marching scheme.

Kaul, U. K.↗

Computing approximate random Delta v magnitude probability densities

This paper describes the development and use of an algorithm to compute approximate statistics of the magnitude of a single random trajectory correction maneuver (TCM) Delta v vector. The TCM Delta v vector is modeled as a three component Cartesian vector each of whose components is a random variable having a normal (Gaussian) distribution with zero mean and possibly unequal standard deviations. The algorithm uses these standard deviations as input to produce approximations to (1) the mean and standard deviation of the magnitude of Delta v, (2) points of the probability density function of the magnitude of Delta v, and (3) points of the cumulative and inverse cumulative distribution functions of Delta v. The approximates are based on Monte Carlo techniques developed in a previous paper by the author and extended here. The algorithm described is expected to be useful in both pre-flight planning and in-flight analysis of maneuver propellant requirements for space missions.

Chadwick, C.↗

A combined direct/inverse three-dimensional transonic wing design method for vector computers

A three-dimensional transonic-wing design algorithm for vector computers is developed, and the results of sample computations are presented graphically. The method incorporates the direct/inverse scheme of Carlson (1975), a Cartesian grid system with boundary conditions applied at a mean plane, and a potential-flow solver based on the conservative form of the full potential equation and using the ZEBRA II vectorizable solution algorithm of South et al. (1980). The accuracy and consistency of the method with regard to direct and inverse analysis and trailing-edge closure are verified in the test computations.

Weed, R. A.↗

User's manual for airfoil flow field computer code SRAIR

A two dimensional unsteady Navier-Stokes calculation procedure with specific application to the isolated airfoil problem is presented. The procedure solves the full, ensemble averaged Navier-Stokes equations with turbulence represented by a mixing length model. The equations are solved in a general nonorthogonal coordinate system which is obtained via an external source. Specific Cartesian locations of grid points are required as input for this code. The method of solution is based upon the Briley-McDonald LBI procedure. The manual discusses the analysis, flow of the program, control steam, input and output.

Shamroth, S. J.↗

Two-dimensional internal compressible viscous flows using semi-elliptic analysis

Subsonic viscous flows through planar cascades are examined by means of a semielliptic form of the Navier-Stokes equations, which is obtained by neglecting the streamwise diffusion of momentum and energy in their respective equations and providing upstream interaction through the pressure field. The influence of downstream conditions is propagated upstream in the subsonic flow, via a streamwise implicit determination of the pressure field, in order to permit departure-free solutions for the overall flow problem. The continuity equation is thereby satisfied directly. Governing equations are written in strong conservation law form, in terms of general, nonorthogonal transformed coordinates and Cartesian velocity components.

Ghia, K. N.↗