Computations of a Maneuvering Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle Using a High-Order Overset-Grid Method

Abstract

Simulating the flow around a maneuvering unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) requires a computational method capable of modeling such complex flow features as massive separation, transition from laminar to turbulent flow. and nonlinear vortex dynamics. In the present paper, a parallel, high-order. overset-grid solver is used to compute these challenging flow fields. Turbulence modeling is accomplished using an implicit Large Eddy Simulation (LES) approach, which exploits the characteristics of the sixth-order accurate computational scheme coupled with high-order, low pass filtering. This scheme provides a unified computational approach for the laminar/transitional/turbulent flow fields encountered by maneuvering UCAVs. A general overset grid capability, including high-order interpolation and the ability to handle holes while maintaining high-order accuracy, has been incorporated into the flow solver. This high-order method is applied to the simulation of a canonical low sweep delta wing and a generic, tailless, low-sweep wing UCAV configuration. Computations performed for the low sweep delta wing at moderate Reynolds numbers demonstrate the ability of the implicit large-eddy simulation (ILES) approach to capture important Reynolds number effects for these complicated transitional flow fields. Groundbreaking high-order computations for the generic UCA V configuration are then presented with the fundamental aerodynamic phenomena of the configuration being examined using the improved accuracy of the high-order overset method. Comparisons with available experimental measurements are made to demonstrate the ability of this high-fidelity modeling approach to capture the complex flow physics involved.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 2007
Accession Number
ADP023733

Entities

People

  • Miguel R. Visbal
  • Raymond E. Gordnier
  • Scott E. Sherer

Organizations

  • Air Force Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force Research Laboratories
  • Aircrafts
  • Boundary Layer
  • Computational Fluid Dynamics
  • Computational Science
  • Delta Wings
  • Fluid Dynamics
  • Fluid Flow
  • High Performance Computing
  • Kinetic Energy
  • Large Eddy Simulation
  • Leading Edges
  • Measurement
  • Parallel Computing
  • Parallel Processing
  • Reynolds Number
  • Turbulent Mixing

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Aerodynamics/Aeronautics.
  • Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)

Technology Areas

  • Autonomy