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At least 55 records · Page 3

A numerical simulation of finite-length Taylor-Couette flow

The processes leading to laminar-turbulent transition in finite-channel-length Taylor-Couette flow are investigated analytically, solving the unsteady incompressible Navier-Stokes equations by spectral-collocation methods. A time-split algorithm, implementable in both axisymmetric and fully three-dimensional time-accurate versions, and an algorithm based on the staggered-mesh discretization of Bernardi and Maday (1986) are described in detail, and results obtained by applying the axisymmetric version of the first algorithm and a steady-state version of the second are presented graphically and compared with published experimental data. The feasibility of full three-dimensional simulations of the progression through chaotic states to turbulence under the constraints of Taylor-Couette flow is demonstrated.

Streett, C. L.↗

Navier-Stokes analyses of the redistribution of inlet temperature distortions in a turbine

The flow exiting the combustor and entering the turbine of a gas turbine engine is known to contain both spatial and temporal variations in total temperature. Although historically it has been presumed that the turbine rotor responded to the average temperature, recent experimental evidence has demonstrated that the rotor actually separated the hotter and cooler streams of fluid so that the hotter fluid migrated toward the pressure surface and the cooler fluid migrated toward the suction surface. In the present study a time-accurate, two-dimensional, thin-layer, Navier-Stokes analysis of a turbine stage was used to analyze this phenomenon. The rough qualitative agreement between the measured and the computed results indicated that the analysis had successfully captured many of the important features of the flow.

Rai, Man Mohan↗

Numerical experiments with a symmetric high-resolution shock-capturing scheme

Characteristic-based explicit and implicit total variation diminishing (TVD) schemes for the two-dimensional compressible Euler equations have recently been developed. This is a generalization of recent work of Roe and Davis to a wider class of symmetric (non-upwind) TVD schemes other than Lax-Wendroff. The Roe and Davis schemes can be viewed as a subset of the class of explicit methods. The main properties of the present class of schemes are that they can be implicit, and, when steady-state calculations are sought, the numerical solution is independent of the time step. In a recent paper, a comparison of a linearized form of the present implicit symmetric TVD scheme with an implicit upwind TVD scheme originally developed by Harten and modified by Yee was given. Results favored the symmetric method. It was found that the latter is just as accurate as the upwind method while requiring less computational effort. Currently, more numerical experiments are being conducted on time-accurate calculations and on the effect of grid topology, numerical boundary condition procedures, and different flow conditions on the behavior of the method for steady-state applications. The purpose here is to report experiences with this type of scheme and give guidelines for its use.

Yee, H. C.↗

Unsteady transonic algorithm improvements for realistic aircraft applications

Improvements to a time-accurate approximate factorization (AF) algorithm were implemented for steady and unsteady transonic analysis of realistic aircraft configurations. These algorithm improvements were made to the CAP-TSD (Computational Aeroelasticity Program - Transonic Small Disturbance) code developed at the Langley Research Center. The code permits the aeroelastic analysis of complete aircraft in the flutter critical transonic speed range. The AF algorithm of the CAP-TSD code solves the unsteady transonic small-disturbance equation. The algorithm improvements include: an Engquist-Osher (E-O) type-dependent switch to more accurately and efficiently treat regions of supersonic flow; extension of the E-O switch for second-order spatial accuracy in these regions; nonreflecting far field boundary conditions for more accurate unsteady applications; and several modifications which accelerate convergence to steady-state. Calculations are presented for several configurations including the General Dynamics one-ninth scale F-16C aircraft model to evaluate the algorithm modifications. The modifications have significantly improved the stability of the AF algorithm and hence the reliability of the CAP-TSD code in general.

Batina, John T.↗

Steady and unsteady transonic small disturbance analysis of realistic aircraft configurations

A transonic unsteady aerodynamic and aeroelasticity code CAP-TSD (Computational Aeroelasticity Program-Transonic Small Disturbance) has been developed for application to realistic aircraft configurations. The code uses a time-accurate approximate factorization (AF) algorithm for solution of the unsteady transonic small-disturbance potential equation. The paper gives an overview of the CAP-TSD code development effort and reports on recent algorithm modifications. The algorithm modifications include: an Engquist-Osher (E-O) type-dependent switch to treat regions of supersonic flow, extension of the E-O switch for second-order spatial accuracy, nonisentropic effects to treat strong-shock cases, nonreflecting far field boundary conditions for unsteady applications, and several modifications to accelerate convergence to steady state. The modifications have significantly improved the stability of the AF algorithm and hence the reliability of the CAP-TSD code in general. Calculations are also presented from a flutter analysis of a 45-deg sweptback wing which agree well with experimental data. The paper present descriptions of the CAP-TSD code and algorithm details along with results.

Batina, John T.↗

Improved 3-D turbomachinery CFD algorithm

The building blocks of a computer algorithm developed for the time-accurate flow analysis of rotating machines are described. The flow model is a finite volume method utilizing a high resolution approximate Riemann solver for interface flux definitions. This block LU implicit numerical scheme possesses apparent unconditional stability. Multi-block composite gridding is used to orderly partition the field into a specified arrangement. Block interfaces, including dynamic interfaces, are treated such as to mimic interior block communication. Special attention is given to the reduction of in-core memory requirements by placing the burden on secondary storage media. Broad applicability is implied, although the results presented are restricted to that of an even blade count configuration. Several other configurations are presently under investigation, the results of which will appear in subsequent publications.

Janus, J. Mark↗

Computation and analysis of a cylinder wake flow

The Karman vortex wake of a circular cylinder at low Reynolds number was computed by a time-accurate, two-dimensional compressible Navier-Stokes equation solver which uses the MacCormack predictor-corrector finite-difference scheme and a nonreflecting boundary condition on the outer flow boundary. The results from a large number of time steps were analyzed using Fast Fourier Transform techniques to identify the important frequency components for comparison with published experimental data. A strong low-frequency component was found below the vortex shedding frequency and not harmonically related to it. The experimentally discovered low-frequency fluctuations in the cylinder wake are considered possibly to be precursors to transition from laminar to turbulent flow conditions. The present finding of similar frequencies in a computed wake tends to confirm their existence as a real wake phenomenon. This computational work provides a complementary means to experimental investigations of wake phenomena.

Townsend, J. C.↗

Unsteady Euler solution of transonic helicopter rotor flow

A new time-accurate Euler method is presented for calculating the transonic flow over a lifting or nonlifting rotor blade in both hover and forward flight. The approach is to solve the conservative Euler equations in a rotor-fixed frame of reference using a finite-volume method. The discretized equations are solved by using a Runge-Kutta multistage scheme with a new higher-order implicit residual smoothing procedure. Preliminary results were compared with wind-tunnel data. In all the cases considered, good agreement was found with experimental data.

Chang, I-Chung↗

Unsteady viscous calculations of supersonic flows past deep and shallow three-dimensional cavities

Computational simulations were performed for supersonic, turbulent flows over deep and shallow three-dimensional cavities. The width and the depth of these cavities were fixed at 2.5 in. and 0.5 in., respectively. Length-to-depth ratio of the deep cavity was 6 and that of the shallow cavity was 16. Freestream values of Mach number and Reynolds number were 1.50 and 2.0 x 10 to the 6th/ft., respectively, at a total temperature of 585 R. The thickness of the turbulent boundary layer at the front lip of the cavity was 0.2 in. Simulations of these oscillatory flows were generated through time-accurate solutions of Reynolds-averaged full Navier-Stokes equations using the explicit MacCormack scheme. The solutions are validated through comparisons with experimental data. The features of open and closed cavity flows and effects of the third dimension are illustrated through computational graphics.

Baysal, O.↗

Unsteady transonic algorithm improvements for realistic aircraft applications

Improvements to a time-accurate approximate factorization (AF) algorithm have been implemented for steady and unsteady transonic analysis of realistic aircraft configurations. The algorithm improvements include: an Engquist-Osher (E-O) type-dependent switch to more accurately and efficiently treat regions of supersonic flow, extension of the E-O switch for second-order spatial accuracy in these regions, nonreflecting far field boundary conditions for more accurate unsteady applications, and several modifications which accelerate convergence to steady-state. Calculations are presented for several configurations to evaluate the algorithm modifications. The modifications have significantly improved the stability of the AF algorithm and hence the reliability of the CAP-TSD code in general.

Batina, John T.↗

Towards developing robust algorithms for solving partial differential equations on MIMD machines

Methods for efficient computation of numerical algorithms on a wide variety of MIMD machines are proposed. These techniques reorganize the data dependency patterns to improve the processor utilization. The model problem finds the time-accurate solution to a parabolic partial differential equation discretized in space and implicitly marched forward in time. The algorithms are extensions of Jacobi and SOR. The extensions consist of iterating over a window of several timesteps, allowing efficient overlap of computation with communication. The methods increase the degree to which work can be performed while data are communicated between processors. The effect of the window size and of domain partitioning on the system performance is examined both by implementing the algorithm on a simulated multiprocessor system.

Saltz, Joel H.↗

Three-dimensional unsteady transonic viscous-inviscid interaction using the Euler and boundary-layer equations

The objective of this study is the development of a numerical technique which can provide three-dimensional, time-accurate, compressible, turbulent flow solutions in a practical and relatively economical way. The approach taken is that of the method of viscous-inviscid interaction. The Euler equations are assumed to govern the outer inviscid portion of the flow, and the viscous layer close to the solid wall is described by a set of integral boundary-layer equations. The viscous solutions are obtained in a direct fashion with a weighted-average phase error scheme. The method of equivalent sources is used for viscous-inviscid coupling. Steady-state and unsteady computations for an AGARD airfoil and a wing show that satisfactory engineering solutions can be obtained for attached, high Reynolds number flows using this method. Quasi-unsteady interactions are shown to produce similar results to those provided by true-unsteady interactions. Considerable computer resources can be saved for some cases by using quasi-unsteady interactions.

Whitfield, David L.↗

Transonic stability and control of aircraft using CFD methods

Implementation of a capability to calculate longitudinal short-period response in the CAP-TSD (Computational Aeroelasticity Program - Transonic Small Disturbance) finite-difference code is described. The code, developed recently at the NASA Langley Research Center, is capable of solving steady and unsteady flows about complete aircraft configurations and is used primarily for aeroelastic calculations in the critical transonic speed range. The longitudinal short-period equations of motion in state-space form have been coupled to the time-accurate lift and moment calculated by the program. Transient responses to an elevator pulse for free-flying aircraft demonstrate the new capability. A trim routine is also added to the code to obtain trim automatically during steady-state flow field convergence. Stability and control derivatives are estimated from the calculated transient response by a maximum likelihood estimation program. Results for a fighter configuration and a general aviation configuration are presented to assess the capability.

Vinh, Lam-Son↗

Computations of unsteady dissociating nitrogen flows

A time-accurate computer program has been developed to solve flows involving nonequilibrium chemical reactions and vibrational relaxation. The program is based on a multidomain approach and an explicit MacCormack scheme. Results are presented for three simple test cases, involving nitrogen dissociation in a closed box.

Marraffa, Lionel↗

Explicit and implicit solution of the Navier-Stokes equations on a massively parallel computer

The design, implementation, and performance of a two-dimensional time-accurate Navier-Stokes solver for the CM2 supercomputer are described. The program uses a single processor for each grid point. Two different time-stepping methods have so far been implemented: an explicit third-order Runge-Kutta method and an implicit approximation-factorization method. The CM2 results are checked against those of a mature well-vectorized Cray 2 program, both for correctness and performance. The code is found to be correct, and the performance in some cases is up to several times that of the Cray 2.

Levit, Creon↗

Navier-Stokes simulations of tip vortices for fixed and rotating helicopter blades

Flowfield and tip vortex results are presented for a hovering rotor blade at subcritical and supercritical flow conditions for both nonlifting and lifting configurations. These results are calculated numerically by solving, in a time-accurate fashion, the unsteady thin layer Navier-Stokes equations written in rotor coordinates. The lifting calculations use an induced downwash correction, estimated from a free wake analysis, to the geometric angle of attack of the blades to account for the wake effect. Comparison of numerical results with the experimental data shows very good agreement for all cases considered. Alternate methods of calculating hovering rotor flowfield as steady state flowfield on isolated fixed-blade that have the same circulation distribution as that of rotor in hover are also explored.

Srinivasan, G. R.↗

A numerical simulation of finite-length Taylor-Couette flow

Results from numerical simulations of finite-length Taylor-Couette flow are presented. Included are time-accurate and steady-state studies of the change in the nature of the symmetric two-cell/asymmetric one-cell bifurcation with varying aspect ratio and of the Reynolds number/aspect ratio locus of the two-cell/four-cell bifurcation. Preliminary results from wavy-vortex simulations at low aspect ratios are also presented.

Streett, C. L.↗

Three dimensional flows in multistage compressors

Current multi-stage turbomachinery design/analysis methods are based on a time-averaged, axisymmetric representation of the flow field. The actual flow field is asymmetric and unsteady due to blade row interactions. The Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes solvers are limited to single-stage machines for existing computers. Therefore, advanced multi-stage compressors will operate far off-design for portions of the flight regime. The objectives are to provide an experimentally validated average-passage calculation of multistage compressor blade row interactions and an experimentally validated time-accurate calculation of multi-stage compressor blade row interactions. Various aspects of this investigation are presented in viewgraph form.

Hathaway, Michael D.↗