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At least 109 records · Page 6

Optimizing advanced propeller designs by simultaneously updating flow variables and design parameters

A scheme is developed for solving constrained optimization problems in which the objective function and the constraint function are dependent on the solution of the nonlinear flow equations. The scheme updates the design parameter iterative solutions and the flow variable iterative solutions simultaneously. It is applied to an advanced propeller design problem with the Euler equations used as the flow governing equations. The scheme's accuracy, efficiency and sensitivity to the computational parameters are tested.

Rizk, Magdi H.↗

Aerodynamic optimization by simultaneously updating flow variables and design parameters with application to advanced propeller designs

A scheme is developed for solving constrained optimization problems in which the objective function and the constraint function are dependent on the solution of the nonlinear flow equations. The scheme updates the design parameter iterative solutions and the flow variable iterative solutions simultaneously. It is applied to an advanced propeller design problem with the Euler equations used as the flow governing equations. The scheme's accuracy, efficiency and sensitivity to the computational parameters are tested.

Rizk, Magdi H.↗

Dynamic response characteristics of a circulation control rotor model pneumatic system

Numerical and experimental simulation of unsteady airflow through the control valve and slotted air duct of a circulation control rotor is described. The numerical analysis involves the solution of the quasi-one-dimensional compressible fluid-dynamic equations in the blade air duct together with the coupled isentropic flow equations for flow into the blade through the valve and out of the blade through the Coanda slot. Numerical solutions are compared with basic experimental results obtained for a mockup of a circulation control rotor and its pneumatic valving system. The pneumodynamic phenomena that were observed are discussed with particular emphasis on the characteristic system time lags associated with the response of the flow variables to transient and periodic control valve inputs.

Watkins, C. B.↗

Conical Euler solution for a highly-swept delta wing undergoing wing-rock motion

Modifications to an unsteady conical Euler code for the free-to-roll analysis of highly-swept delta wings are described. The modifications involve the addition of the rolling rigid-body equation of motion for its simultaneous time-integration with the governing flow equations. The flow solver utilized in the Euler code includes a multistage Runge-Kutta time-stepping scheme which uses a finite-volume spatial discretization on an unstructured mesh made up of triangles. Steady and unsteady results are presented for a 75 deg swept delta wing at a freestream Mach number of 1.2 and an angle of attack of 30 deg. The unsteady results consist of forced harmonic and free-to-roll calculations. The free-to-roll case exhibits a wing rock response produced by unsteady aerodynamics consistent with the aerodynamics of the forced harmonic results. Similarities are shown with a wing-rock time history from a low-speed wind tunnel test.

Lee, Elizabeth M.↗

Shape optimization for aerodynamic efficiency and low observability

Field methods based on the finite-difference approximations of the time-domain Maxwell's equations and the potential-flow equation have been developed to solve the multidisciplinary problem of airfoil shaping for aerodynamic efficiency and low radar cross section (RCS). A parametric study and an optimization study employing the two analysis methods are presented to illustrate their combined capabilities. The parametric study shows that for frontal radar illumination, the RCS of an airfoil is independent of the chordwise location of maximum thickness but depends strongly on the maximum thickness, leading-edge radius, and leadingedge shape. In addition, this study shows that the RCS of an airfoil can be reduced without significant effects on its transonic aerodynamic efficiency by reducing the leading-edge radius and/or modifying the shape of the leading edge. The optimization study involves the minimization of wave drag for a non-lifting, symmetrical airfoil with constraints on the airfoil maximum thickness and monostatic RCS. This optimization study shows that the two analysis methods can be used effectively to design aerodynamically efficient airfoils with certain desired RCS characteristics.

Vinh, Hoang↗

Self-Similar Compressible Free Vortices

Lie group methods are used to find both exact and numerical similarity solutions for compressible perturbations to all incompressible, two-dimensional, axisymmetric vortex reference flow. The reference flow vorticity satisfies an eigenvalue problem for which the solutions are a set of two-dimensional, self-similar, incompressible vortices. These solutions are augmented by deriving a conserved quantity for each eigenvalue, and identifying a Lie group which leaves the reference flow equations invariant. The partial differential equations governing the compressible perturbations to these reference flows are also invariant under the action of the same group. The similarity variables found with this group are used to determine the decay rates of the velocities and thermodynamic variables in the self-similar flows, and to reduce the governing partial differential equations to a set of ordinary differential equations. The ODE's are solved analytically and numerically for a Taylor vortex reference flow, and numerically for an Oseen vortex reference flow. The solutions are used to examine the dependencies of the temperature, density, entropy, dissipation and radial velocity on the Prandtl number. Also, experimental data on compressible free vortex flow are compared to the analytical results, the evolution of vortices from initial states which are not self-similar is discussed, and the energy transfer in a slightly-compressible vortex is considered.

vonEllenrieder, Karl↗

Time-accurate unsteady aerodynamic and aeroelastic calculations for wings using Euler equations

A time-accurate approach to simultaneously solve the Euler flow equations and modal structural equations of motion is presented for computing aeroelastic responses of wings. The Euler flow eauations are solved by a time-accurate finite difference scheme with dynamic grids. The coupled aeroelastic equations of motion are solved using the linear acceleration method. The aeroelastic configuration adaptive dynamic grids are time accurately generated using the aeroelastically deformed shape of the wing. The unsteady flow calculations are validated wih experiment, both for a semi-infinite wing and a wall-mounted cantilever rectangular wings. Aeroelastic responses are computed for a rectangular wing using the modal data generated by the finite-element method. The robustness of the present approach in computing unsteady flows and aeroelastic responses that are beyond the capability of earlier approaches using the potential equations are demonstrated.

Guruswamy, Guru P.↗

Implementation of a multiblock sensitivity analysis method in numerical aerodynamic shape optimization

A multiblock sensitivity analysis method is applied in a numerical aerodynamic shape optimization technique. The Sensitivity Analysis Domain Decomposition (SADD) scheme which is implemented in this study was developed to reduce the computer memory requirements resulting from the aerodynamic sensitivity analysis equations. Discrete sensitivity analysis offers the ability to compute quasi-analytical derivatives in a more efficient manner than traditional finite-difference methods, which tend to be computationally expensive and prone to inaccuracies. The direct optimization procedure couples CFD analysis based on the two-dimensional thin-layer Navier-Stokes equations with a gradient-based numerical optimization technique. The linking mechanism is the sensitivity equation derived from the CFD discretized flow equations, recast in adjoint form, and solved using direct matrix inversion techniques. This investigation is performed to demonstrate an aerodynamic shape optimization technique on a multiblock domain and its applicability to complex geometries. The objectives are accomplished by shape optimizing two aerodynamic configurations. First, the shape optimization of a transonic airfoil is performed to investigate the behavior of the method in highly nonlinear flows and the effect of different grid blocking strategies on the procedure. Secondly, shape optimization of a two-element configuration in subsonic flow is completed. Cases are presented for this configuration to demonstrate the effect of simultaneously reshaping interfering elements. The aerodynamic shape optimization is shown to produce supercritical type airfoils in the transonic flow from an initially symmetric airfoil. Multiblocking effects the path of optimization while providing similar results at the conclusion. Simultaneous reshaping of elements is shown to be more effective than individual element reshaping due to the inclusion of mutual interference effects.

Lacasse, James M.↗

A pressure correction method for the calculation of compressible chemical reacting flows

A recently developed noniterative method for the solution of the transient fluid flow equations at all speed is extended to handle chemical reacting flows. The species conservation equations are loosely coupled into the predictor/multicorrector sequence of the solution procedure. A split-operator method separates the chemical kinetics terms from the fluid-dynamical terms, as well as an implicit differencing method enhance the numerical stability. The method was applied for turbulent diffusion flame calculations and for the analyses of high pressure, axisymmetric turbulent hypersonic nozzle flows. The diffusion flame results were compared with a similar pressure method for fast chemistry integration scheme without operator-splitting. Simulations of the nozzle flow indicated that the nonideal intermolecular effects must be included in the analysis and design of high pressure hypersonic nozzle.

Chen, Z. J.↗

Damping seals for turbomachinery

A rotor seal is proposed that restricts leakage like a labyrinth seal, but extends the stabilizing speed range beyond twice the first critical speed. The dynamic parameters were derived from bulk flow equations without requiring a dominant axial flow. The flow is considered incompressible and turbulent. Damping seals are shown to be feasible for extending the speed range of high performance turbomachinery beyond the limit imposed by conventional seals.

Vonpragenau, G. L.↗

A Navier-Stokes boundary element solver

Using global interpolation functions (GIF's) boundary element solutions are obtained for two-dimensional laminar flows. Two schemes are proposed for handling the convective terms. The first treats convection as a forcing function, and converts the flow equations to pseudo-Poisson equations. In the second scheme, some convective effect is incorporated into the fundamental solution used in constructing the pertinent integral equations. The lid-driven cavity flow is selected as the benchmark problem.

Reddy, D. R.↗

High resolution solutions of the Euler equations for vortex flows

Solutions of the Euler equations are presented for M = 1.5 flow past a 70-degree-swept delta wing. At an angle of attack of 10 degrees, strong leading-edge vortices are produced. Two computational approaches are taken, based upon fully three-dimensional and conical flow theory. Both methods utilize a finite-volume discretization solved by a pseudounsteady multistage scheme. Results from the two approaches are in good agreement. Computations have been done on a 16-million-word CYBER 205 using 196 x 56 x 96 and 128 x 128 cells for the two methods. A sizable data base is generated, and some of the practical aspects of manipulating it are mentioned. The results reveal many interesting physical features of the compressible vortical flow field and also suggest new areas needing research.

Murman, E. M.↗

Boundary conditions for implicit solutions to the compressible Navier-Stokes equations in finite computational domains

The admissible boundary conditions for the unsteady Navier-Stokes equations are insufficient to determine completely the flow variables at grid points on the boundaries of a finite computational domain. A general method is presented in which the boundary conditions are supplemented by conservatively differenced forms of the flow equations. For implicit algorithms, the method provides a fully implicit coupling between boundary and interior points. Implicit boundary-point computation schemes are given for most types of flow boundary encountered in internal and external flow problems. Convergence to steady state is generally faster than with locally explicit boundary-point schemes.

Thomas, P. D.↗

Model equations for simulating flows in multistage turbomachinery

A steady, three dimensional average-passage equation system was derived. The purpose was to simulate multistage turbomachinery flows. These equations describe a steady, viscous flow that is periodic from blade passage to blade passage. Moreover, these equations have a closure problem that is similar to that of the Reynolds-average Navier-Stokes equations. A scaled form of the average-passage equation system could provide an improved mathematical model for simulating the flow in the design and in the off-design conditions of a multistage machine.

Adamczyk, John J.↗

Flux-difference split scheme for turbulent transport equations

This paper describes a high accuracy upwind method to solve the mean compressible flow equations closed with two-equation turbulence models. A flux-difference splitting scheme is developed to compute the flowfield without introducing oscillations into the solution. A high-order accuracy scheme is used to predict both the mean flow variables and the turbulence variables. Results comparing two different two-equation turbulence models are presented for supersonic flow over a flat plate and a compressible, free shear-layer. The non-oscillatory behavior of the upwind scheme is demonstrated on the free shear-layer.

Morrison, J. H.↗