Numerical Prediction of Blended Wing Body Aerodynamic Characteristics at Subsonic Speed

2014 ◽  
Vol 71 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pang Jung Hoe ◽  
Nik Ahmad Ridhwan Nik Mohd

The need for high performance and green aircraft has brought the blended wing (BWB) aircraft concept to the centre of interest for many researchers. BWB is a type of aircraft characterized by a complex blending geometry between fuselage and wing. Recently, many researches had been performed to unlock its aerodynamic complexity that is still not well understood. In this paper, aerodynamic characteristic of a baseline BWB configuration derived from simple conventional aircraft configuration was analysed using the Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes computational fluid dynamics (CFD) solver. The main objectives of this work are to predict the aerodynamic characteristics of the BWB concept at steady flight conditions and at various pitch angles. The results obtained are then compared against a simple conventional aircraft configuration (CAC). The results show that the BWB configuration used has 24% higher L/D ratio than the CAC. The increment to the L/D however is mainly due to lower drag than the improvement in the lift. 

Author(s):  
Francesco Balduzzi ◽  
Alessandro Bianchini ◽  
Giovanni Ferrara ◽  
David Marten ◽  
George Pechlivanoglou ◽  
...  

Due to the rapid progress in high-performance computing and the availability of increasingly large computational resources, Navier-Stokes computational fluid dynamics (CFD) now offers a cost-effective, versatile and accurate means to improve the understanding of the unsteady aerodynamics of Darrieus wind turbines and deliver more efficient designs. In particular, the possibility of determining a fully resolved flow field past the blades by means of CFD offers the opportunity to both further understand the physics underlying the turbine fluid dynamics and to use this knowledge to validate lower-order models, which can have a wider diffusion in the wind energy sector, particularly for industrial use, in the light of their lower computational burden. In this context, highly spatially and temporally refined time-dependent three-dimensional Navier-Stokes simulations were carried out using more than 16,000 processor cores per simulation on an IBM BG/Q cluster in order to investigate thoroughly the three-dimensional unsteady aerodynamics of a single blade in Darrieus-like motion. Particular attention was payed to tip losses, dynamic stall, and blade/wake interaction. CFD results are compared with those obtained with an open-source code based on the Lifting Line Free Vortex Wake Model (LLFVW). At present, this approach is the most refined method among the “lower-fidelity” models and, as the wake is explicitly resolved in contrast to BEM-based methods, LLFVW analyses provide three-dimensional flow solutions. Extended comparisons between the two approaches are presented and a critical analysis is carried out to identify the benefits and drawbacks of the two approaches.


Author(s):  
Francesco Balduzzi ◽  
David Marten ◽  
Alessandro Bianchini ◽  
Jernej Drofelnik ◽  
Lorenzo Ferrari ◽  
...  

Due to the rapid progress in high-performance computing and the availability of increasingly large computational resources, Navier–Stokes (NS) computational fluid dynamics (CFD) now offers a cost-effective, versatile, and accurate means to improve the understanding of the unsteady aerodynamics of Darrieus wind turbines and deliver more efficient designs. In particular, the possibility of determining a fully resolved flow field past the blades by means of CFD offers the opportunity to both further understand the physics underlying the turbine fluid dynamics and to use this knowledge to validate lower-order models, which can have a wider diffusion in the wind energy sector, particularly for industrial use, in the light of their lower computational burden. In this context, highly spatially and temporally refined time-dependent three-dimensional (3D) NS simulations were carried out using more than 16,000 processor cores per simulation on an IBM BG/Q cluster in order to investigate thoroughly the 3D unsteady aerodynamics of a single blade in Darrieus-like motion. Particular attention was paid to tip losses, dynamic stall, and blade/wake interaction. CFD results are compared with those obtained with an open-source code based on the lifting line free vortex wake model (LLFVW). At present, this approach is the most refined method among the “lower-fidelity” models, and as the wake is explicitly resolved in contrast to blade element momentum (BEM)-based methods, LLFVW analyses provide 3D flow solutions. Extended comparisons between the two approaches are presented and a critical analysis is carried out to identify the benefits and drawbacks of the two approaches.


2015 ◽  
Vol 138 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeff R. Harris ◽  
Blake W. Lance ◽  
Barton L. Smith

A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) validation dataset for turbulent forced convection on a vertical plate is presented. The design of the apparatus is based on recent validation literature and provides a means to simultaneously measure boundary conditions (BCs) and system response quantities (SRQs). All important inflow quantities for Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS). CFD are also measured. Data are acquired at two heating conditions and cover the range 40,000 < Rex < 300,000, 357 <  Reδ2 < 813, and 0.02 < Gr/Re2 < 0.232.


2012 ◽  
Vol 184-185 ◽  
pp. 944-948 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hai Jun Gong ◽  
Yang Liu ◽  
Xue Yi Fan ◽  
Da Ming Xu

For a clear and comprehensive opinion on segregated SIMPLE algorithm in the area of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) during liquid processing of materials, the most significant developments on the SIMPLE algorithm and its variants are briefly reviewed. Subsequently, some important advances during last 30 years serving as increasing numerical accuracy, enhancing robustness and improving efficiency for Navier–Stokes (N-S) equations of incompressible fluid flow are summarized. And then a so-called Direct-SIMPLE scheme proposed by the authors of present paper introduced, which is different from SIMPLE-like schemes, no iterative computations are needed to achieve the final pressure and velocity corrections. Based on the facts cited in present paper, it conclude that the SIMPLE algorithm and its variants will continue to evolve aimed at convergence and accuracy of solution by improving and combining various methods with different grid techniques, and all the algorithms mentioned above will enjoy widespread use in the future.


2012 ◽  
Vol 57 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer N. Abras ◽  
C. Eric Lynch ◽  
Marilyn J. Smith

The focus of this paper is to discuss the unique challenges introduced through the use of unstructured grids in rotorcraft computational fluid dynamics (CFD)–computational structural dynamics (CSD) coupling. The use of unstructured grid methodology in CFD has been expanding because of the advantages in grid generation and modeling of complex configurations. However, the resulting amorphous distribution of the grid points on the rotor blade surface provides no information with regard to the orientation of the blade, in direct contrast to structured grid methodology that can take advantage of the ordered mapping of points to identify the orientation as well as simplifying airloads integration. A methodology has been developed and is described here, which now permits unstructured methods to be utilized for elastic rotary-wing simulations. This methodology is evaluated through comparison of the UH60A rotor with available flight test data for forward flight.


2013 ◽  
Vol 753-755 ◽  
pp. 2731-2735
Author(s):  
Wei Cao ◽  
Zheng Hua Wang ◽  
Chuan Fu Xu

The graphics processing unit (GPU) has evolved from configurable graphics processor to a powerful engine for high performance computer. In this paper, we describe the graphics pipeline of GPU, and introduce the history and evolution of GPU architecture. We also provide a summary of software environments used on GPU, from graphics APIs to non-graphics APIs. At last, we present the GPU computing in computational fluid dynamics applications, including the GPGPU computing for Navier-Stokes equations methods and the GPGPU computing for Lattice Boltzmann method.


Author(s):  
Balasubramanyam Sasanapuri ◽  
Viraj Suresh Shirodkar ◽  
Wesley Wilson ◽  
Samir Kadam ◽  
Shin Hyung Rhee

A Virtual Model Basin (VMB) is developed based on a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) approach to solving the Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations along with the Volume of Fluid (VOF) method for predicting the free surface. The primary objective of this work is to develop methodologies for the VMB and to demonstrate the capabilities for a generic multi-hull ship geometry. The VMB is used to simulate various model basin tests for steady resistance, maneuvering and seakeeping. For a generic catamaran hull configuration, the methodologies are used for solving these problems and the results are discussed in this paper. VMB results are compared with the results of a benchmarked potential flow theory method for calm water resistance.


2014 ◽  
Vol 136 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tyrone S. Phillips ◽  
Christopher J. Roy

This study investigates the accuracy of various Richardson extrapolation-based discretization error and uncertainty estimators for problems in computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Richardson extrapolation uses two solutions on systematically refined grids to estimate the exact solution to the partial differential equations (PDEs) and is accurate only in the asymptotic range (i.e., when the grids are sufficiently fine). The uncertainty estimators investigated are variations of the grid convergence index and include a globally averaged observed order of accuracy, the factor of safety method, the correction factor method, and least-squares methods. Several 2D and 3D applications to the Euler, Navier–Stokes, and Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) with exact solutions and a 2D turbulent flat plate with a numerical benchmark are used to evaluate the uncertainty estimators. Local solution quantities (e.g., density, velocity, and pressure) have much slower grid convergence on coarser meshes than global quantities, resulting in nonasymptotic solutions and inaccurate Richardson extrapolation error estimates; however, an uncertainty estimate may still be required. The uncertainty estimators are applied to local solution quantities to evaluate accuracy for all possible types of convergence rates. Extensions were added where necessary for treatment of cases where the local convergence rate is oscillatory or divergent. The conservativeness and effectivity of the discretization uncertainty estimators are used to assess the relative merits of the different approaches.


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