Introduction. Computational aerodynamics

Abstract

The wide range of uses of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) for aircraft design is discussed along with its role in dealing with the environmental impact of flight. Enabling technologies, such as grid generation and turbulence models, are also considered along with flow/turbulence control. The large eddy simulation, Reynolds-averaged NavierStokes and hybrid turbulence modelling approaches are contrasted. The CFD prediction of numerous jet configurations occurring in aerospace are discussed along with aeroelasticity for aeroengine and external aerodynamics, design optimization, unsteady flow modelling and aeroengine internal and external flows. It is concluded that there is a lack of detailed measurements (for both canonical and complex geometry flows) to provide validation and even, in some cases, basic understanding of flow physics. Not surprisingly, turbulence modelling is still the weak link along with, as ever, a pressing need for improved (in terms of robustness, speed and accuracy) solver technology, grid generation and geometry handling. Hence, CFD, as a truly predictive and creative design tool, seems a long way off. Meanwhile, extreme practitioner expertise is still required and the triad of computation, measurement and analytic solution must be judiciously used.

Computational fluid dynamics and virtual aeroengine modelling

“…The current state-of-art in CFD and its importance in aerospace engineering is further illustrated in themed editions of The Aeronautical Journal and the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A, with introductory articles by Emerson et al [10] and Tucker [11]. The first of these journal editions describes some of the research undertaken within the UK applied aerodynamics consortium (UKAAC) for HPC, utilising the national computing facility HPCx which had 1024 IBM POWER5 processors.…”