Exploitation of Multiple Solutions of the Navier-Stokes Equations to Achieve Radically Improved Flight

Abstract

It is known that the nonlinear Navier Stokes equations will model most fluid flow of aeronautical interest. The existence and uniqueness of the solutions to the Navier-Stokes equations have not been proven although it is known that in certain cases only the most stable solution is obtained. This present work is concerned with identifying multiple solutions of the Navier- Stokes equations for transonic flow. The objective is to exploit the existence of these solutions rather than avoid them as has been the custom in the past. The present work has shown that the cause of multiple solutions in potential flow is a bifurcation of solutions at a specific Mach number distribution; airfoils can be designed to give such a distribution. It is also found that the presence of entropy and vorticity do not affect the occurrence of phantom solutions. A physical example of a phantom solution is explained by a study of the potential phantom solutions.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 27, 1989
Accession Number
ADA205939

Entities

People

  • David Nixon
  • M. Farshchi
  • S. C. Caruso

Organizations

  • Nielsen Engineering & Research (United States)

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Boundary Layer
  • Computational Fluid Dynamics
  • Computational Science
  • Differential Equations
  • Equations
  • Euler Equations
  • Flow
  • Flow Fields
  • Fluid Flow
  • Hypervelocity Flow
  • Mach Number
  • Navier Stokes Equations
  • Partial Differential Equations
  • Potential Flow
  • Shock Waves
  • Transonic Flow
  • Viscous Flow

Fields of Study

  • Mathematics

Readers

  • Calculus or Mathematical Analysis
  • Fluid Mechanics and Fluid Dynamics.
  • Systems Analysis and Design