Simulation of unsteady compressible flows in non-inertial reference frames using high-resolution methods

Abstract

The present work will focus on studying three-dimensional compressible aerodynamic flows including the motion of rigid bodies. In this context, simulations of flows over airfoils will be conducted. Such project is important for the understanding of physical phenomena, especially that related to aeroacoustics and turbulence. The flows over airfoils are present in several applications of engineering and science, for example, the flow over high-lift devices of airplanes, crossbars in cars' roofs, small drones, motion of biological systems as wings and fins, wind and gas turbines blades. A numerical tool developed by the aeronautical sciences research group of the School of Mechanical Engineering at Universidade Estadual de Campinas is already capable of performing high fidelity simulations with rigid body movement in two dimensions. However, an extension of this tool should be developed to appropriately simulate three-dimensional turbulent flows in a large eddy simulation context, LES. All the numerical procedures to be implemented are going to be revised and adapted for the proper operation of the new developed tool. The compressible Navier-Stokes equations are going to be solved in a non-inertial frame, which allows rigid bodies to move, making it possible to recreate separation and dynamic stall conditions. These conditions will model flight conditions of drones and wind turbines, besides other conditions observed in biological systems, for instance, those from bird and fish movements. Hence, this project is going to provide an advance in the understanding of the physical mechanisms of separation and dynamic stall conditions, besides noise generation, that occur in moderate Reynolds number flows. (AU)