Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “Numerical simulation”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 127 records · Page 7
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1996

Numerical Simulations of Wing-Body Junction Flows

The goal of the research project is to contribute to the optimized design of fan bypass systems in advanced turbofan engines such as the Advanced Ducted Propulsors (ADP). The immediate objective is to perform numerical simulation of duct-strut interactions to elucidate the loss mechanisms associated with this configuration that is characteristic of ADP. These numerical simulations would complement an experimental study being undertaken at Purdue University. As the first step in the process, a numerical study of wing-body junction flow is being undertaken as it shares a number of characteristics with the duct-strut interaction flow. The presence of the characteristic horseshoe vortex and the associated secondary flow are the salient features that contribute to making this flow a challenge to predict numerically. The simulations will be performed with the NPARC code on the CRAY Y-MP platform at LeRC. The grids for the simulation have been generated using an algebraic mapping technique with a multisurface algorithm.

Krishnamurthy, R.↗
NASA NTRS2003

Numerical Simulation of One- and Two-Phase Flows in Propulsion Systems

Four subprojects were conducted using analytical methods, numerical simulation and experimental tests: (A) Shock wave mitigation by spike-shaped blunt bodies with application for the purpose of drag, lift and longitudinal momentum optimization. The main result in this subproject is: application of a single needle against a supersonic flow provides higher benefits for blunt body drag reduction and heat transfer to the body than the application of multiple needles. (B) Solid particles, liquid and air jet injection through the front of a blunt body against a supersonic flow. In this case, the research conducted and analysis of multiple previous investigations in this area have shown essential benefits and preferable application of solid particle injection. (C) Comparison of different methods of fuel injection into supersonic duct flows. Preliminary numerical simulations and theoretical analysis show promising results for Telescope-shaped inlet applications in SCRAMJET; and (D) Development of an acoustic source location method for different applications including propulsion systems.

Gilinsky, Mikhail↗
NASA NTRS2011

Numerical Simulations of a 20-kW Class Hall Thruster Using the Magnetic-Field-Aligned-Mesh Code Hall2De

This paper reports on numerical simulations of the NASA-300M, a 20-kW class Hall thruster developed at the NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC). The numerical simulations have been performed with a 2-D axisymmetric, magnetic field-aligned-mesh (MFAM) plasma solver developed at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). The main objective of the collaborative effort is to combine physics-based simulation, plasma diagnostics and recent findings on erosion physics to design and demonstrate a high-power, high-performance Hall thruster that exceeds the life of state-of-the-art Hall thrusters by more than one order of magnitude. The thruster simulations have been carried out at a discharge voltage of 500 V and discharge current of 40 A. The results indicate that although the impact energy of ions may attain values that are comparable to the discharge voltage along the downstream portions of the channel, a withdrawn ionization region and significant ion focusing combine to sustain erosion rates below 1 mm/kh. A more extensive evaluation of the baseline NASA-300M configuration and re-design of this thruster with magnetically shielded walls constitute the main focus of our work in the coming months.

plasma simulations↗
NASA NTRS1991

Numerical simulations of turbulent thermal convection with differential rotation

The solar nebula, from which the planets in our solar system formed, featured a disk of gas and dust grains in rapid, differential rotation, and at some stage was likely to have been unstable to thermal convection. This situation is suspected by many to lead to significant turbulent Reynolds stress production and angular momentum transport in such systems, and estimates of transport rates have been attempted from unsubstantiated phenomenological models. In order to determine the circumstances and physical conditions under which our own planetary system formed and to explain recent observations of young stellar systems, it is necessary to develop realistic models of heat and angular momentum transport for such flows. Developing an understanding of complicated flows featuring thermal convection, rotation, and shear is also of wide interest in stellar astrophysics and in planetary and terrestrial atmospheric studies. The ultimate objective is to develop workable models based on the numerical simulations for constructing global solar nebula models; viz., relatively simple prescriptions for heat and angular momentum fluxes from given system parameters (e.g., ratios of rotation, shear, and convective lapse rates) are characterized, quantified, and developed. Toward this end, our program has been to attempt to understand the behavior of the direct numerical simulations of Boussinesq convection, which, despite the complexity of the results, is still an overly simplified approximation to the real system and should be more amenable to analysis. These results are also intended to be tested against turbulence models, especially those designed for atmospheric boundary layers, and may provide a basis for subgrid-scale models. In order to make the numerical simulations more realistic with regard to the solar nebula problem, a fully compressible code that will allow incorporation of large density stratifications and realistic thermodynamic and radiative properties is developed. In order to explore the properties of these flows at the very high values of Re found in natural systems and the very low values of Pr found in most astrophysical contexts, we will need to employ large-eddy simulations for which we want to determine the most appropriate subgrid-scale model to incorporate.

Cabot, William H.↗
NASA NTRS1997

Numerical Simulation of Unsteady Aerodynamic Models

This report documents the results of the numerical simulations of unsteady aerodynamic models. The results focus on numerical accuracy and efficiency, and the robustness of the numerical methods. The aerodynamic models includes the classical Wagner and Kussner functions and the Leishman-Beddoes dynamic stall model. The simulations includes the numerical approximations of the Duhamel's integrals using both indicial (step) and impulse responses, the numerical integrations of the state-space models, and the exact solutions. The report also presents the conversion among different model representations.

Nguyen, Khanh Q.↗
NASA NTRS1982

A Numerical simulation of transition in plane channel flow

A numerical simulation of the final stages of transition to turbulence in plane channel flow at a Reynolds number of 7500 is described. Three dimensional, incompressible Navier-Stokes equations are numerically integrated to obtain the time evolution of two and three dimensional finite amplitude disturbances. Computations are performed on the CYBER-203 vector processor for a 32 by 33 by 32 grid. Solutions indicate the existence of structures similar to those observed in the laboratory and which are characteristic of various stages of transition that lead to final breakdown. Details of the resulting flow field after breakdown indicate the evolution of streak-like formations found in turbulent flows. Although the flow field does approach a steady state (turbulent channel flow), implementation of subgrid-scale terms are necessary to obtain proper turbulent statistics.

Goglia, G.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Bleed-boundary conditions for numerically simulated mixed-compression supersonic inlet flow

A numerical study was performed to investigate boundary conditions for bleed openings that are needed in the numerical simulation of critical flow through turbojet inlets with bleed. Nine different boundary conditions (BCs) were devised and examined. Of the BCs examined, three were able to stabilize the terminal shock near the inlet's throat. This numerical study was based on the ensemble-averaged, unsteady, three-dimensional, compressible Navier-Stokes equations closed by the Baldwin-Lomax algebraic turbulence model. Solutions to the Navier-Stokes equations were obtained by using a hybrid implicit-explicit method (Beam and Warming/MacCormack). The multiblock grid system used in the solution procedure was generated by solving a set of elliptic partial differential equations. Solutions obtained were compared with available experimental data.

Chyu, W. J.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Numerical Simulation of Subsonic and Transonic Propeller Flow

The numerical simulation of 3-D transonic flow about a system of propeller blades is investigated. In particular, it is shown that the use of helical coordinates significantly simplifies the form of the governing equation when the propeller system is assumed to be surrounded by an irrotational flow field of an inviscid fluid. The unsteady small disturbance equation, valid for lightly loaded blades and expressed in helical coordinates, is derived from the general blade-fixed potential equation, given for an arbitrary coordinate system. The use of a coordinate system which inherently adapts to the mean flow results in a disturbance equation requiring relatively few terms to accurately model the physics of the flow. Furthermore, the helical coordinate system presented here is novel in that it is periodic in the circumferential direction while, simultaneously, maintaining orthogonal properties at the mean blade locations. The periodic characteristic allows a complete cascade of blades to be treated, and the orthogonality property affords straightforward treatment of blade boundary conditions. An ADI numerical scheme is used to compute the solution of the steady flow as an asymptotic limit of an unsteady flow. As an example of the method, solutions are presented for subsonic and transonic flow about a 5 percent thick bicircular arc blade of an 8-bladed cascade. Both high and low advance ratio cases are computed and include a lifting as well as nonlifting cases. The nonlifting solutions obtained are compared to solutions from a Euler code.

Snyder, Aaron↗
NASA NTRS1987

Numerical simulation of viscous flows over transonic aircraft configurations

Numerical simulation of compressible viscous flow fields is performed for a transonic transport configuration. A single structured grid system is constructed using analytical transformations such as conformal mapping, shearing/twisting/rotating/clustering/stretching transformations. The Reynolds-averaged, thin-layer Navier-Stokes equations are solved on a supercomputer, FACOM VP-400, using the LU-ADI factorization method.

Takanashi, Susumu↗
NASA NTRS1989

Resolution requirements for numerical simulations of transition

The resolution requirements for direct numerical simulations of transition to turbulence are investigated. A reliable resolution criterion is determined from the results of several detailed simulations of channel and boundary-layer transition.

Zang, Thomas A.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Ion-cyclotron wave heating of heavy ions in the equatorial magnetosphere - A numerical simulation theory

A 1-2/2 dimensional hybrid numerical simulation code is used to study the heating of cold H(+) ions and heavy ions by electromagnetic ion-cyclotron waves (ICWs) in the ring current region of the equatorial magnetosphere. Consideration is given to a plasma consisting of electrons, hot H(+) ions, and cold heavy ions in which the ICWs are driven by the temperature anisotropy of the hot protons. For large-amplitude ICWs, it is found that the cold H(+) ions are preferentially heated over the heavy ions although the cold H(+) ions are heated by a three-step process.

Chen, M. W.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Direct numerical simulations of transition in a compressible wake

Direct numerical simulations of a compressible wake are performed to determine the sensitivity of large-scale motions to initial phase lags between the most unstable two-dimensional wave and a pair of oblique waves, and to determine the effect of Mach number on the development of three-dimensional motions. The vorticity dynamics of the flow are studied, and it is determined that, depending upon the initial phase lag, the interaction of the streamwise vorticity with the spanwise vortices may result in the formation of closed vortex loops, or in the removal of streamwise vorticity from the saddle region between the spanwise vortices. Due to lower growth rates experienced at high Mach numbers, the roll-up process is delayed, and the resultant nonlinear motions are much more diffuse.

Chen, Jacqueline H.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Resolution requirements for numerical simulations of transition

The resolution requirements for direct numerical simulations of transition to turbulence are investigated. A reliable resolution criterion is determined from the results of several detailed simulations of channel and boundary-layer transition.

Zang, Thomas A.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Numerical simulation of fluid flow around a scramaccelerator projectile

Numerical simulations of the fluid motion and temperature distribution around a 'scramaccelerator' projectile are obtained for Mach numbers in the 5-10 range. A finite element method is used to solve the equations of motion for inviscid and viscous two-dimensional or axisymmetric compressible flow. The time-dependent equations are solved explicitly, using bilinear isoparametric quadrilateral elements, mass lumping, and a shock-capturing Petrov-Galerkin formulation. Computed results indicate that maintaining on-design performance for controlling and stabilizing oblique detonation waves is critically dependent on projectile shape and Mach number.

Pepper, Darrell W.↗
NASA NTRS2014

Direct Numerical Simulation of a Weakly Stratified Turbulent Wake

Direct numerical simulation (DNS) is used to investigate a time-dependent turbulent wake evolving in a stably stratified background. A large initial Froude number is chosen to allow the wake to become fully turbulent and axisymmetric before stratification affects the spreading rate of the mean defect. The uncertainty introduced by the finite sample size associated with gathering statistics from a simulation of a time-dependent flow is reduced, compared to earlier simulations of this flow. The DNS reveals the buoyancy-induced changes to the turbulence structure, as well as to the mean-defect history and the terms in the mean-momentum and turbulence-kinetic-energy budgets, that characterize the various states of this flow - namely the three-dimensional (essentially unstratified), non-equilibrium (or 'wake-collapse') and quasi-two-dimensional (or 'two-component') regimes observed elsewhere for wakes embedded in both weakly and strongly stratified backgrounds. The wake-collapse regime is not accompanied by transfer (or 'reconversion') of the potential energy of the turbulence to the kinetic energy of the turbulence, implying that this is not an essential feature of stratified-wake dynamics. The dependence upon Reynolds number of the duration of the wake-collapse period is demonstrated, and the effect of the details of the initial/near-field conditions of the wake on its subsequent development is examined.

Redford, J. A.↗
NASA NTRS2000

Accuracy of Numerical Simulations of Tip Clearance Flow in Transonic Compressor Rotors Improved Dramatically

The tip clearance flows of transonic compressor rotors have a significant impact on rotor and stage performance. Although numerical simulations of these flows are quite sophisticated, they are seldom verified through rigorous comparisons of numerical and measured data because, in high-speed machines, measurements acquired in sufficient detail to be useful are rare. Researchers at the NASA Glenn Research Center at Lewis Field compared measured tip clearance flow details (e.g., trajectory and radial extent) of the NASA Rotor 35 with results obtained from a numerical simulation. Previous investigations had focused on capturing the detailed development of the jetlike flow leaking through the clearance gap between the rotating blade tip and the stationary compressor shroud. However, we discovered that the simulation accuracy depends primarily on capturing the detailed development of a wall-bounded shear layer formed by the relative motion between the leakage jet and the shroud.

VanZante, Dale E.↗