Browse Topic: Turbulence

Items (312)
This study introduces a structured methodology for identifying Control-Equivalent Turbulence Input (CETI) models using rotorcraft flight dynamics simulations. A new Moving Spatial Turbulence Field (MSTF) model was developed to generate input datasets, enabling CETI model identification for four distinct aircraft configurations: a generic utility helicopter resembling the H-60, and three small-scale multi-rotor UAS types—a quadcopter, hexacopter, and octocopter. The CETI models were validated in hover using frequency-domain analysis, with flight-derived CETI models serving as the benchmark. To further assess model performance in forward flight, CETI models for the H-60 were identified at airspeeds ranging from 0 to 140 knots in 40- knot increments. Results indicated that the MSTF-based CETI models for the H-60 effectively captured key spectral features of the flight-test data, though some deviations were observed, potentially due to variability in atmospheric conditions. In contrast, the CETI models for the multi-rotor UAS configurations showed closer alignment with flight data, likely reflecting more accurately captured atmospheric inputs during simulation. These findings highlight the promise of simulation-based CETI modeling for both rotorcraft and UAS, offering valuable insights into turbulence effects across diverse platforms and flight regimes.
Saetti, UmbertoRinaldi, MarcoGuglieri, GiorgioBerger, TomLu, Linghai
This study presents the development and application of a refined momentum source term methodology for synthetic turbulence generation in urban flow simulations. By embedding divergence-free, three-dimensional turbulence fields consistent with the von Kármán energy spectrum directly within the computational domain, the approach enables flexible and efficient turbulence generation with minimal sensitivity to grid stretching. The method is validated through Large Eddy Simulations (LES) of flow around a representative urban vertiport model under varying turbulence intensities (10%, 20%, and 30%). Results demonstrate that the generated synthetic turbulence significantly alters the flow field, reducing recirculation zones, promoting earlier shear-layer reattachment, and stabilizing the flow above the vertiport platform—key factors for safe eVTOL operations. Instantaneous flow analyses reveal that secondary tip vortices (STVs) persist even in the presence of strong inflow turbulence but lose their periodicity, explaining discrepancies with prior spectral analyses. Overall, the momentum source term approach offers a practical and effective tool for modeling atmospheric turbulence and gust conditions in urban air mobility and rotorcraft simulations.
Maleki, AlirezaGolubev, VladimirMankbadi, Reda R.
An extensive test campaign was conducted at the National Full-Scale Aerodynamics Complex 40- by- 80-Foot wind tunnel to acquire performance, loads, and acoustics measurements of the Joby Aviation propeller across a variety of operating conditions. The dataset provided validation of the design methodology as well as verification of computational tools. The Vold-Kalman filter was used to extract the shaft-coherent propeller noise in hover to obtain the residual noise, representing the broadband noise. This data verified broadband noise tip speed scaling laws as well as a low-order empirical model for overall sound pressure level. The OVERFLOW/PSU-WOPWOP method was used to simulate the propeller in pure edgewise flight and shown to accurately predict propeller performance. The low-frequency acoustics were predicted well but the solver underpredicted frequencies above 300 Hz, possibly due to the inability to capture the turbulent component of the blade-wake and blade-vortex interaction. The computational method was used to simulate the propeller at various angles of attack in low-speed edgewise flight and captured trends and spectral content up to 1 kHz. The predictions showed noise sources moving from root to tip as the propeller angle of attack increased. However, the high-frequency content was not captured for all cases. The experimental campaign was successful in characterizing the acoustics of the Joby Aviation propeller, but more research is needed to be able to properly predict and understand the noise sources throughout the flight envelope.
Thai, AustinBain, Jeremy
The performance and acoustics of a scaled propeller designed for an eVTOL vehicle were investigated in axial and edgewise flight. The measured performance compared well with BEMT predictions in axial flight conditions. The noise produced by the propeller is dominated by broadband noise sources, where there is evidence of contributions from blade wake interaction noise, turbulent boundary layer trailing edge noise, and laminar boundary layer vortex shedding noise. The directivity of the noise was found to be dependent on the advance ratio. Beamform maps also identified changes in the dominant noise source at different observer locations as a function of advance ratio.
Huang, Szu-FuChaware, ShreyasLundquist, RyanIntaratep, NanyapornAlexander, William
This paper expands on a previous exploratory investigation into the safety implications of helicopter operations at hospital landing sites. The paper analyses the interaction between rotor downwash, the turbulent wake shed from nearby buildings and the effect of varying windspeed and aircraft position. A RANS CFD method has been used to compute the mean airflow in the vicinity of a hospital helipad with a helicopter, representative of a Bell 412, hovering at three different positions around the site. The main rotor of the aircraft was modelled using a Virtual Blade Model, enabling a coupled solution between the airflow around nearby structures and the helicopter. The study examines the resulting airflow patterns and velocity magnitudes around the site for two incoming windspeeds and three varying aircraft positions. Results presented are focussed on areas where the rotor downwash is present and likely to impact pedestrians. The findings show that windspeed can affect how the downwash from the rotor is distributed through the local environment and highlights that, in certain areas, calculated air velocities are found to be at levels considered hazardous to pedestrians.
Souza Branco, DavidOwen, IeuanWhite, MarkWatson, Neale
This study presents computational analyses of coaxial rotor hub flows and validation against experimental data obtained from the fifth Rotor Hub Flow Prediction Workshop. Experiments were conducted in a 12-inch diameter water tunnel at Pennsylvania State Applied Research Laboratory, employing tomographic particle-image velocimetry (Tomo-PIV) and precise hub drag measurements. Three CFD codes (UMD Mercury, CREATETM-AV Helios, and OVERFLOW) utilizing hybrid Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) / Large Eddy Simulation (LES) modeling based on Spalart–Allmaras turbulence model, were applied to replicate and analyze hub flows. Counter-rotating coaxial rotor hubs under free-air condition was simulated as the simplest case and the hub drags are compared between the three CFD codes. The full water tunnel configuration, consisting of two hubs, a fairing, and shafts, was also simulated and compared to experimental results, with a focus on hub drag, wake velocity fields, and turbulence quantities. Results demonstrated that the computational frameworks effectively captured key flow physics, although some discrepancies in drag harmonics, wake velocity and turbulence intensity magnitudes were observed. Additionally, the study highlighted the impact of rotor hub geometry and installation of sail-fairing on drag and wake structures. These findings contribute to improve computational predictions, essential for designing high-speed rotor hub configurations.
Jung, Yong SuBaeder, JamesPremaratne, PavithraJain, RohitDeore, NealCoder, JamesSchmitz, SvenGosin, Samuel
Precision flight in windy conditions is a common challenge for multirotor UAS. It is especially challenging for in contact tasks that require high-precision positioning and good disturbance rejection capabilities. Such tasks include landing on high-voltage powerlines for in-contact inspections. This paper presents the implementation of small lateral thrusters to improve the lateral position hold ability of a large power line inspection UAS in windy conditions. Arranged in antagonistic pairs on each side, the lateral thrusters handle the high-frequency but smaller-amplitude wind turbulence components with a frequency split control. Using an identified model of the UAS flight dynamics alongside flight data in high-wind conditions, a control architecture with a frequency split in the lateral axis was optimized to increase the disturbance rejection. Experimental tests showed a 67% reduction in lateral position error with the proposed approach in high-wind conditions.
Leclerc, Marc-AntoineRancourt, DavidLussier Desbiens, Alexis
Rotorcrafts frequently operate in environments with severe atmospheric turbulence, for instance transferring people offshore to and from oil rigs as well as operating from and around ships. The presence of high turbulence can deteriorate performance, stability, and controllability of the rotorcraft. Additionally, such challenging conditions also generate loads that both airframe and rotor components must withstand. Following this, it is crucial to consider the impact of these operational atmospheric conditions during rotorcrafts design and development. In this context, numerical models are a fundamental tool to provide an easier and quicker way to explore the operative envelopes of the helicopter compared to performing experimental activities. This paper presents a rotor loads correlation activity between an experimental test designed and carried out by Leonardo Helicopters in which an AW189 helicopter was placed in the wake of a C-27J Spartan aircraft and a multibody structural model built using MSC Adams®. Furthermore, an atmospheric turbulence model is proposed and compared with the wind experimental records with the purpose of defining an analytical tool for the estimation of the wind time histories. The main purpose of the work is to detail the extensive correlation activity and highlight the modeling key ingredients to consider for an accurate load prediction in a turbulent wind environment. The correlation focuses on the effect of the wind during ground operations, considering the rotor at rest or running up/shutting down.
Capizzi, Cristiano MariaPrederi, DavideFrassoldati, GregorioBucciaglia, Giuseppe
The Shake-The-Box technique was applied to experimentally quantify the time-resolved volumetric flow field around a free-flying quadcopter UAV with an overall span of about 0.5 m. State-of-the-art LED illumination and high-speed camera equipment was combined with modern Lagrangian tracer particle tracking and data assimilation techniques, facilitating a measurement volume larger than 1.5m3. The setup allowed for both hover and limited maneuvering of the quadcopter, while resolving even small details of the complex interactional aerodynamics. In hover out of ground effect, the four individual rotor wakes merged into a single jet within a few rotor radii below the rotor planes. Evaluating the mass and momentum fluxes over suitable control volumes yields accurate estimates for the quadcopter's total thrust, the asymmetric thrust distribution between front and back rotors, and the entrainment of external flow through turbulent mixing. Hover in ground effect decreases the power requirement and induces recirculating flow in the center of the four rotors. The outwash pattern is non-uniform with jets developing between the rotors and pointing in radially outward directions. Forward flight cases result in a skewed, rapidly merging wake flanked by the roll-up of two "super-vortices" similar to the wingtip vortices of fixed-wing vehicles.
Wolf, Claus ChristianSchröder, AndreasStrübing, TobiasBosbach, JohannesHeintz, AlexanderSchwarz, ClemensSchanz, Daniel
A computational study is conducted on a coaxial rotor hub and sail fairing configuration to analyze hub surface forces and the characteristics of its downstream wake. The flow conditions and grids are based on experimental tests performed at the Penn State Applied Research Lab (ARL) Water Tunnel at a baseline Reynolds number. Grid development for the rotor hubs and sail fairing is done using Pointwise v18.04R1 and Chimera Grid Tools (version 2.2). Simulations are performed using NASA's OVERFLOW2.4b Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes solver. The drag forces on the rotor hubs are computed and compared to standalone drag data to analyze the effects of interactional aerodynamics. Flow features, frequency content and Reynolds stresses of the wake are analyzed. Frequency content and Reynolds stresses show clear spatial bias. The anisotropy of the Reynolds stresses is computed and used to determine the character of the wake turbulence.
Deore, NealCoder, James
The capabilities of two different laminar-turbulent transition models are evaluated for the prediction of the PSP rotor performance in hover. The first transition model originates on non-local semi-empirical transition criteria that are calculated on the basis of the history of boundary layer quantities along the wall streamlines. The second one is the Langtry-Menter model that consists in two additional transport equations based on a local transition criterion. The same numerical methods and same post-processing are used with the elsA CFD solver in order to have a fair comparison between the models. Both transition modeling technics provide a good agreement with the experimental measurements concerning the transition position on the upper side of the blade. On the lower side, the predictions are less satisfactory. Transition criteria approach gives good trends while Langtry-Menter results seem to be polluted by the tip vortex flow. A grid sensitivity study shows that Langtry-Menter model requires very fine grid in order to predict the expected behavior while transition-criteria approach is less affected by the grid resolution. In terms of rotor performance, both approaches predict the experimental measurements, Langter-Menter tending to slightly overestimate the Figure of Merit where transition criteria approach slightly underestimates its value.
Richez, François
This paper describes wind tunnel testing of small remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) to understand better the maximum wind speeds in which they can be safely operated. Urban flow fields can contain complex flow structures such as speed changes, direction changes, shear layers, turbulence and vorticity; all of these can impact the safety of urban RPAS operations. The work described in this paper is part of an ongoing effort to provide Canadian regulators with knowledge to guide safe RPAS operations in urban environments. In the wind tunnel, flow fields representative of urban flows were created using simple flow manipulators like bluff bodies and vanes. The flow manipulators and the resulting flow fields, in relation to representative urban flows, are described in this paper. Wind tunnel testing of a number of RPAS in these representative airflows was conducted to evaluate the sustained wind speed limit at which the vehicle could maintain a stable hover. These tests enabled a step in the understanding of the wind speed limit for various RPAS in different flows. The paper shows a clear impact of turbulence level on the maximum safe operating wind speed of RPAS.
Wall, AlannaMcKercher, RichardKumar, SukritiTabachnick, IsaacBarber, Hali
ABSTRACT A proof of concept test to measure the unsteady boundary layer transition locations on the lower surface of a Machscaled rotor in forward flight was performed during the Summer of 2017 in the NASA Langley 14- by 22-Foot Subsonic Tunnel. The transition locations were measured using high-speed infrared thermography with a rotating mirror assembly that could be remotely actuated to acquire data at several rotor azimuths. Data were acquired for eight unique rotor flight conditions for a range of advance ratios (μ=0:10 : 0:38), thrust coefficients (CT/α =0:04 : 0:12) and rotor shaft angles (αs = -6 deg : 0 deg). This paper presents the transition locations as a function of azimuth and radius for an advance ratio of, μ, of 0.30, and thrust coefficent, CT/α, of 0.08. At this condition, the lower surface is fully laminar on the retreating side and mostly turbulent on the advancing side except near the tip. The tip airfoils were greater than 60 percent laminar on the lower surface advancing side. Capturing the location of natural transition on a rotating blade in forward flight represents a new advancement toward understanding the boundary layer state and its important contribution to rotor aerodynamics. Documentation of the boundary layer transition location during testing is critical to understanding scaling model to full-scale performance data, validation of newly developed turbulence models, and the design of the next generation of high performance rotor blades.
Overmeyer, AustinHeineck, J.T.Wolf, Christian
This paper presents results from an ongoing research that aims to create Parametric Rotor Control Equivalent Turbulence Inputs (RCETI) models for different rotor configurations. In RCETI modeling, the rotor swash-plate deflections are utilized as inputs to match the turbulence-related spectra of rotor hub-loads in order to achieve the parametrization and generalization of these models. The development of the RCETI model, which aims to produce rotor loads spectra similar to those generated by two-dimensional spectra of turbulence, is conducted using a representative rotor model in FLIGHTLAB®. The effect of rotational sampling of turbulence on the rotor response is analyzed. The hub-fixed sampling, rotational sampling at 0.75R as well as the blade-element sampling of turbulence are considered and compared. Furthermore, parametric analysis is carried out to study the effect of altering rotor parameters on the developed RCETI model and presented in the paper.
Hayajnh, MahmoudPrasad, J.V.R.
A use-case was conducted in Montréal in the summer and fall of 2023 to measure urban airflow characteristics using a small Remotely-Piloted Air System (sRPAS). The goal of the study was to acquire urban airflow data in a real environment in order to validate urban airflow characteristics from laboratory-scale testing conducted previously. The use-case took place in the downtown core of Montréal and involved flights from two hospitals to a variety of other buildings. The sRPAS was instrumented with an airflow measurement system. Fixed rooftop anemometer stations were also installed on top of buildings along the flight paths to measure urban airflow at altitudes within close proximity to rooftops. The study generated a valuable data set for characterizing sRPAS operations in urban environments. A number of operational challenges were experienced including the difficulty associated with visual line of sight operations with an urban backdrop, avoiding conditions that could lead to loss of command and control link, and the need to monitor electromagnetic interference during flight operations. The use-case produced evidence of the impact of urban airflows on the stability and response of sRPAS. High wind speeds and turbulence intensities were found in the urban flow field of Montréal. The sRPAS use-case results were used to validate wind-speed and turbulence characteristics from laboratory-scale testing on Canadian cities.
McTavish, SeanWall, AlannaBarber, Hali
The National Research Council of Canada (NRC) has recently developed an Integrated Reality In-flight Simulator (IRIS) that allows helicopter pilots to fly the NRC's Bell 412 Advanced Systems Research Aircraft (ASRA) while wearing a commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) virtual reality headset. IRIS is the first airborne simulator of its kind that combines COTS virtual reality and Fly-By-Wire (FBW) synthetic turbulence for helicopter operations. Simulations are not exact replications of actual environments; therefore, a methodology of comparing pilot workload with respect to an analysis of the differences between the simulated and actual environments is required. During a recent flight trial, NRC validated the effectiveness of IRIS to replicate a pilot's workload during ship landing tasks using these workload scales. During the analysis, NRC took initial steps in developing methodologies to examine environmental characteristics and then correlate them to an associated pilot workload. The work also included the initial development of methodologies to analyze pilot workload and alternative prediction methods that better map subjective or quantitative pilot workload data to DIPES.
Comeau, PerryJennings, SionLaw, AndrewWall, Alanna
This study presents a statistical approach for detecting and estimating damage to multicopter propellers through a comprehensive probabilistic model. The methodology is derived from model-based analysis and applied within the time series statistical techniques. This research accounts for uncertainties in the estimation process and offers confidence intervals for assessing the extent of damage to the propellers. The framework employs functionally pooled (FP) models characterized by parameters that depend on damage sizes, proper statistical estimation, and decision-making schemes. The validation and assessment are assessed via a hexacopter flying in circles with a constant velocity and altitude under turbulence. The damage size ranges from healthy to 10 mm. The method achieves fast damage detection and precise magnitude estimation based on a segment of a single measured signal obtained from aircraft sensors during flight.
Huang, ShinanKopsaftopoulos, FotisVining, CassandraZhou, PeiyuanZhu, Jingxi
This study models flow around isolated and side-by-side three-bladed propellers in (IGE) and out of ground effect (OGE) using actuator-based techniques of varying fidelity. Actuator techniques model propellers using momentum sources distributed over the disk in actuator disk method (ADM) or distributed over moving lines in actuator line method (ALM) to reduce computational cost compared to blade-resolved DDES simulations. The lowest fidelity ADM method is observed to reasonably predict thrust with the use of a tip loss model to control runaway thrust at the tip while not resolving flow features such as blade-bound vortices and helical tip vortices at a fraction of the cost of BR-DDES (1/100). The coarser ALM model resolves these features but still requires a tip loss model to control runaway thrust at 1/10th the cost of BR-DDES. Finally, the finer ALM model used in this study accurately captures blade-related features and further predicts the tip loss trend from first principles at 1/3rd the cost of BRDDES. Demonstrating the efficacy of these techniques for a commonly encountered flow scenario - side-by-side rotors at 2.5R hub separation are simulated where turbulent fountaining flow is observed between the rotors which eliminates the thrust increase normally seen IGE, a feature captured by both ADM and ALM techniques. However, only ALM captures the impulsive 3-per-rev thrust loading seen in BR-DDES.
Udaya Hebbar, UllhasReddinger, Jean-PaulGandhi, FarhanNiemiec, Robert
The development of turbulence criteria to provide early guidance for the design of vertiports is presented in this paper. For any aircraft, winds, in particular crosswinds and gusty winds, are top of mind for all pilots engaging in take-off and landing maneuvers. It is anticipated that the same will be true for VTOL and eVTOLs landing on vertiports, in particular as new vertiports are built closer and closer to urban centres. First, a review of the current design criteria for vertiports around the world related to wind is presented, highlighting the commonality between the guidance and the gaps in their content. Second, the controllability criteria that VTOL and eVTOLs will likely need to meet in the pursuit of an airworthiness certification are reviewed and their pertinence with regards to vertiport design are discussed. Third, the characters of the wind and their impact on eVTOL flights at or near take-off and landing infrastructure is explored. Finally, a set of turbulence criteria for vertiports and a turbulence index are proposed. The index includes a scale for conditions ranging from favorable for take-off and landing; to more and more demanding conditions; up to turbulence conditions to be firmly avoided.
Larose, GuyAl Labbad, MaryamSchajnoha, Sharon
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Bahr, MatthewFerede,  EtanaGandhi,  Farhan
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Taymourtash, NedaMorelli,  MylesGuardone, AlbertoQuaranta, Giuseppe
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Bahr, MatthewFerede,  EtanaGandhi,  FarhanHebbar,  Ullhas
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Truong, KevinBerger, TomGong,  AnthonyTischler,  MarkIvler, Christina
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Watson, NealeOwen,  IeuanWhite,  Mark
A robust framework for fault detection and identification of rotor degradation in multicopters while effectively rejecting the effects of gusts is introduced. The rotor fault detection and identification methods employed in this study are based on excitation-response signals of the aircraft under ambient turbulence to distinguish between an aircraft response to gusts and rotor faults. A concise overview of the development of statistical time series model for healthy aircraft using the aircraft attitudes as the output and controller commands as the input is presented. This model is utilized to extract quality features for training a simple neural network to perform effective online rotor fault detection and identification in a hexacopter exceptional speed of making a decision and accuracy of fault classification. It is shown that using a statistical time series model assisted neural network employed for online monitoring is capable of rejecting gusts, sensitive to even 20% rotor degradation and achieves fault detection and identification in less than 2 s after the fault with an accuracy over 99%.
Dutta, AirinGandhi, FarhanKopsaftopoulos, FotisMcKay, Michael
This work introduces the use of "global" stochastic models to detect and identify rotor failures in multicopters under different operating conditions, turbulence, and uncertainty. The identification of an extended class of time-series models known as Vector-dependent Functionally Pooled AutoRegressive models, which are characterized by parameters that depend on both forward velocity and gross weight, using scalar or vector aircraft response signals under white noise excitation has been described. A concise overview of the residual based statistical decision making schemes for fault detection and identification of rotor failures is provided. The scalar and vector statistical models, along with residual variance and residual uncorrelatedness methods were validated and their effectiveness was assessed by a proof-of-concept application to aircraft flight for healthy and faulty states under severe turbulence and intermediate operating conditions. The results of this study demonstrate the effectiveness of all the proposed residual-based time series methods in terms of prompt rotor fault detection, although the methods based on Vector AutoRegressive models exhibit improved performance compared to their scalar counterparts with respect to their performance in identifying rotor failures in the post-failure controller compensated state.
Dutta, AirinMcKay, MichaelKopsaftopoulos, FotisGandhi, Farhan
A turbulence model based on a Synthetic Eddy Method has been adapted for flight simulation purposes and coupled to two FlightLab helicopter models. The model is based on the generation of a random distribution of turbulence generating Eddies within a control model surrounding the aircraft. Eddies are convected by the flow and regenerated at the inflow as they leave the simulation domain. Adjustment of Reynolds stresses and Eddy shape and sizes should allow adjustment of turbulence intensities and frequency spectra. Compared to other random turbulence models, preserving the location of the Eddies in the control volume ensures automatically that turbulence across different aircraft locations is automatically correlated. Offline and piloted flight simulation has been conducted to test the viability of the concept. Results show that the turbulence model generates upsets in all aircraft axis which result in higher workload requirements for the pilot.
Huecas, SergioBarakos, Prof.White, Prof.
This paper presents an efficient prediction of coaxial rotor broadband noise, particularly trailing-edge noise. The method combines a newly developed iterative coaxial rotor BEMT, a viscous panel method, an empirical wall pressure spectrum, and Amiet's trailing-edge noise model. Aerodynamic data including the induced velocity and angle of attack on each rotor are calculated by the iterative BEMT. Then, turbulent boundary layer flows, such as the boundary layer thickness, skin friction coefficient, pressure gradient, etc., are computed by a viscous panel code, XFOIL. Based on these boundary layer parameters, the wall pressure spectrum near the trailing edge is computed by Lee's semi-empirical model. Finally, trailing-edge noise is predicted by Amiet’s model from the wall pressure spectrum. This method provides fast computations for aerodynamics and acoustics for coaxial rotors. Acoustic predictions can be performed for various design and operating conditions including the effect of rotor-to-rotor separation distance. In addition to the overall noise of the combined rotor system, each rotor's contributions to noise can be analyzed. A small-scaled untwisted rotor is selected to analyze aerodynamics and aeroacoustics. It is found that the noise contribution from each rotor is about the same at small separation distances. At large separation distances, the lower rotor generates higher noise levels than the upper rotor mainly due to the change in rotor distance with respect to the observer. The detailed boundary-layer flow properties are investigated on both rotors.
Lee, SeongkyuShlesinger, Inbal
Simulation of Transient On-Road Conditions in a Closed Test Section Wind Tunnel Using a Wing System with Active Flaps2020-01-06884/14/2020
Typical automotive research in wind tunnels is conducted under idealized, stationary, low turbulence flow conditions. This does not necessarily reflect the actual situation in traffic. Thus, there is a considerable interest to simulate the actual flow conditions. Because of this, a system for the simulation of the turbulence intensity I, the integral linear scale L and the transient angle of incidence β measured in full-scale tests in the inflow of a test vehicle was developed and installed in a closed-loop, closed test section wind tunnel. The system consists of four airfoils with movable flaps and is installed in the beginning of the test section. Time-series of the flow velocity vector are measured in the empty test section to analyze the system’s envelope in terms of the turbulence intensity and the integral length scales. It is shown that the length scales in spanwise and in driving (streamwise) direction can be varied from 0.15 m to 7.9 m and from 0.15 m to 2.5 m, respectively, depending on the frequency of the flap movement. The maximum obtained turbulence intensity in the driving direction x is 3% and in the spanwise direction y 9.8%, depending on the flap’s amplitude. It is further shown that the turbulence intensity in driving direction can be increased to 5.6% with passive turbulence generators. Additionally, a model for predicting the flap movement reproducing the transient angle of incidence β measured in the on-road tests during an overtaking maneuver was developed. Measurements of the forces acting on the vehicle revealed an influence of the non-stationary flow on the non-stationary force coefficients. Finally, changes of up to 0.002 in Δcd and 0.157 in Δcs were measured.
Wilhelmi, HenningJessing, ChristophBell, JamesHeine, DanielaWagner, AndreasWiedemann, JochenWagner, Claus
On Shedding Frequency and Aerodynamic Characteristics of a Rotating Wire-Wrapped Cylinder2020-01-00283/10/2020
Numerical and experimental investigations of shedding frequency of rotating smooth and wire-wrapped cylinders, placed in steady flow have been performed. The freestream mean velocity was 10 m/sec. and for the numerical investigations, the smooth cylinder diameter was 5 cm, which corresponds to an approximate Reynolds number based on cylinder’s diameter of 3.2x104. The wire-wrapped cylinder had a wire diameter of 5 mm and the ratios of pitch spacing to the cylinder diameter, p/D, was 1.0. The cylinder length to diameter ratio was 20. The rotation rates (λ) were 0.5 and 2.0. To obtain the shedding frequency, numerical probes were placed at 3D downstream, 0.5 D above the centerline, and at 0.5D, spaced along the spanwise direction and the shedding frequencies were obtained from spectra of the axial velocity. Results indicate that the lift for the wire-wrapped cylinder is nearly 150% of that of the smooth cylinder, however, it has a higher drag force. Details of the flow indicate wire-wrapping reduces spanwise coherency and increases the phase angle of vortices, resulting in increased lift. Experimental results indicate a similar trend as the numerical results, with wire-wrapping, reduces the shedding oblique angle and with rotation, reduced peak energy, breaking down the large eddies into smaller eddies of different frequencies.
Rahai, Hamid R.Bonifacio, JeremyBegum, AssmaGada, Komal
Equivalent Sand Grain Roughness Correlation for Aircraft Ice Shape Predictions2019-01-19786/10/2019
Many uncertainties in an in-flight ice shape prediction are related to convection heat transfer coefficient, which in turn depends on the flow, turbulence and laminar/turbulent transition models. The height of ice roughness element used to calculate the Equivalent Sand Grain Roughness height (ESGR) is a very important input of the turbulence model as it strongly influences the shape of the accreted ice. Unfortunately, for in-flight icing, the ESGR is unknown and generally calculated using semi-empirical models or empirical correlations based on a particular ice shape prediction code. Each ice shape prediction code is unique due to the models and correlations used and the numerical implementation. Ice roughness correlations do not have the same effect in each ice shape prediction code. A new approach to calculate the ESGR correlation taking into consideration the particularities of the ice shape prediction code is developed, calibrated and validated. This new approach derives a correlation based on two dimensionless numbers: the first by re-defining the Stanton number and the second based on the thermodynamic heat balance. A calibration procedure is used based on 14 different 2D experimental ice shapes for a NACA 0012 airfoil of 21 inches chord. The correlation is validated against 41 2D experimental ice shapes obtained on 5 airfoils: the GLC 305; a commercial transport airfoil; NACA 23014; NACA 0015 and NACA 0012. A large range of icing conditions are covered. The results of this validation exercise show 90% of the predicted ice shapes are visually in good to excellent agreement with experiment. The advantage of the proposed ESGR correlation for the calculation of the ice roughness is that the correlation is calibrated with only a few cases for a specific icing simulation suite. This is possible because the correlation depends on two dimensionless numbers related to the in-flight icing physics simulation.
Fortin, Guy
Lattice Boltzmann Simulations of Flow Over an Iced Airfoil2019-01-19456/10/2019
This paper presents an aerodynamic degradation study of an iced airfoil, using the Lattice Boltzmann approach with the commercial software PowerFLOW. Three-dimensional numerical simulations were performed with an extruded constant section of the GLC-305 airfoil with a leading-edge double-horn ice shape using periodic boundary conditions. The freestream Reynolds number, based on the chord, is 3.5 million and the Mach number is 0.12. An extensive comparison of the main flow features with experimental data is performed, including aerodynamic coefficients, pressure coefficient distributions, velocity and turbulence contours along with its profiles at several positions, and stagnation streamlines. The drag coefficient agrees well with experiments, in spite of a small shift. Two different wind tunnel measurements, using different measurement techniques, were compared to the CFD results, which mostly stayed in between the experimental data. Velocity and turbulence intensity contours as well as stagnation streamlines enabled a more detailed comparison of the flow field, which showed great accuracy of the simulations to predict the reattachment location. Overall, very good agreement is obtained with the available reference data. The numerical tool used to calculate the aerodynamic performance was able to deal with very complex flows, which in this case is highly unsteady, turbulent and characterized by large recirculation zones downstream of the ice. Such flow unsteadiness is caused by the flow separation and adverse pressure gradients. A mesh resolution analysis indicated grid convergence using a medium resolution setup, which provided good accuracy with fast turnaround times for the simulations. This enabled a complete angle of attack polar sweep, including post-stall angles.
Ihi, RafaelRibeiro, AndreSantos, LuisSilva, Daniel
An Assessment of LEWICE Roughness and Convection Enhancement Models2019-01-19776/10/2019
During aircraft design and certification, in-flight ice accretions are simulated using ice prediction codes. LEWICE, the ice accretion prediction code developed by NASA, employs a time-stepping procedure coupled with a thermodynamic model to calculate the location, size and shape of an ice accretion. LEWICE has been extensively validated for a wide range of icing conditions. However, continuing improvements to LEWICE predictive capabilities require better understandings of 1) the fundamental physics of turbulent flow generated by ice accretion roughness during an icing event and 2) the mechanisms responsible for convective enhancement of real ice accretion roughness. Recent experiments in the Icing Research Tunnel (IRT) at NASA Glenn Research Center have enabled significant insights into the nature of ice accretion roughness spatial and temporal variations. Other recent investigations have employed scans from the IRT to generate scaled test surfaces to investigate convection enhancement and skin friction interactions of flow over the surfaces with real ice roughness. For this investigation, the measurements of ice roughness characteristics, skin friction, and convection heat transfer enhancement are compared directly to predictions calculated using the LEWICE models. Issues associated with the LEWICE model for predicting laminar-to-turbulent transition are also addressed. The comparisons show that while the LEWICE models significantly overestimate equivalent sand-grain roughness heights and the local skin friction, the resulting LEWICE predictions of convection heat transfer generally agree within 25% of the experimental values for surfaces constructed with low thermal conductivity materials. At each step of the LEWICE model, methods to improve the predictions are provided.
Shannon, TimothyMcClain, Stephen T.
Structural Vibration of an Elastically Supported Plate due to Excitation of a Turbulent Boundary Layer2019-01-14706/5/2019
High-Reynolds number turbulent boundary layers are an important source for inducing structural vibration. Small geometric features of a structure can generate significant turbulence that result in structural vibration. In this work we develop a new method to couple a high-fidelity fluid solver with a dynamic hybrid analytical-numerical formulation for the structure. The fluid solver uses the Large-Eddy Simulation closure for the unresolved turbulence. Specifically, a local and dynamic one-equation eddy viscosity model is employed. The fluid pressure fluctuation on the structure is mapped to the dynamic structural model. The plate where the flow excitation is applied is considered as part of a larger structure. A hybrid approach based on the Component Mode Synthesis (CMS) is used for developing the new hybrid formulation. The dynamic behavior of the plate which is excited by the flow is modeled using finite elements. However, the rest of the surrounding structure is modeled using finite elements for the static modes and an analytical solution for the dynamic modes of the CMS decomposition. The two main elements of the new work, the hybrid formulation and the process of applying the fluid load on the structural dynamic model are discussed. Validation of the new methodology is done by using test data from the literature for the vibration of a plate excited by air flow, and through comparisons between the new methodology and traditional finite element based solutions.
Diaz, JonmarcosMaki, KevinVlahopoulos, Nickolas
The rotor hub asembly is a primary contributor to rotorcraft parasite drag. Reducing hub drag is one mandatory step to enabling future high - sped conventional and compound rotorcraft. The importance of high - Reynolds number testing of rotor hub flows is emphasized by realizing that high - Reynolds number turbulent coherent structures remain strong for long distances downstream up to the long - age wake where they interact with the empennage and tail. Basic research conducted through the Vertical Lift Research Center of Excellence (VLRCOE) at Pen State's water tunnel facilities has provided unique high Reynolds - scale data of rotor hub wakes, providing new data for physical understanding and validation of computa tional fluid dynamics (CFD) methods. A first rot or hub flow prediction workshop was held in June 2016; the present paper focuses on 'blind comparison results' between experimental data and CFD analyses that were part of the second rotor hub flow prediction workshop at Pen State VLRCOE in May 2018. The hub workshops are the result of a collaboration between Pen State and Georgia Tech VLRCOEs with support from the National Rotorcraft Technology Center (NRTC), including participation from academia, industry, and government. They are compelling examples of productive exchange between experimental and computational efforts that advance the community's knowledge about these complex flows that are relevant to efficient and safe vertical lift.
Schmitz, SvenCentolanza, LouisTierney, CharlesMetkowski, LeonardReich, DavidJaffa, NicholasThomas, Mathew
This work introduces the use of statistical time series methods to detect rotor failures in multicopters. A concise overview of the development of various time series models using scalar or vector signals, statistics, and fault detection methods is provided. The fault detection methods employed in this study are based on parametric time series representations and response-only signals of the aircraft state, as the external excitation is non-observable. The comparative assessment of the effectiveness of scalar and vector statistical models and several residual-based fault detection methods are presented in the presence of external disturbances, such as various levels of turbulence and uncertainty, and for different rotor failure scenarios. The results of this study demonstrate the effectiveness of all the proposed residual-based time series methods in terms of prompt rotor fault detection, although the methods based on Vector AutoRegressive (VAR) models exhibit improved performance compared to their scalar counterparts with respect to their robustness and effectiveness for different turbulence levels and ability to distinguish between healthy and fault compensated condition after rotor failure.
Dutta, AirinMcKay, MichaelKopsaftopoulos, FotisGandhi, Farhan
The effect of uncertainty in Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) simulation is determined through application of Uncertainty Quantification (UQ). In the present study, the sensitivity of aerodynamic coefficients to uncertainty in freestream turbulence intensity (FSTI) and surface roughness is computed for both a rotorcraft fuselage (ROBIN- Mod7) and an airfoil (SC1095). Laminar-turbulent transition model has been extended to account for roughness- induced transition by incorporating an existing roughness-induced transition model. Current UQ analysis is based on the Monte Carlo method with Gaussian distributions of uncertain input parameters. The use of a surrogate model allows for incorporating the results from intensive RANS simulations into a Monte Carlo method. The surrogate model is generated using either a cubic interpolation for a single uncertain parameter or a radial basis function (RBF) for multiple uncertain parameters. The stochastic standard deviation is measured as an indicator for magnitude of uncertainty. It is observed that the standard deviation of each aerodynamic coefficient depends on the flow conditions (angle of attack, mean FSTI, and mean roughness) and the type of transition (natural or separation-induced). Also, the major source of output uncertainty is identified between the unknown FSTI and roughness at various flow conditions.
Jung, YongBaeder, James
LES Analysis on Cycle-to-Cycle Variation of Combustion Process in a DISI Engine2019-01-00061/15/2019
Combustion cycle-to-cycle variation (CCV) of Spark-Ignition (SI) engines can be influenced by the cyclic variations in charge motion, trapped mass and mixture composition inside the cylinder. A high CCV leads to misfire or knock, limiting the engine’s operating regime. To understand the mechanism of the effect of flow field and mixture compositions on CCV, the present numerical work was performed in a single cylinder Direct Injection Spark-Ignition (DISI) engine. A large eddy simulation (LES) approach coupled with the G-equation combustion model was developed to capture the CCV by accurately resolving the turbulent flow field spatially and temporally. Further, the ignition process was modeled by sourcing energy during the breakdown and arc phases with a line-shape ignition model which could move with the local flow. Detailed chemistry was solved both inside and outside the flame front. A compact 48-species 152-reactions primary reference fuel (PRF) reduced mechanism was used. By implementing an adaptive mesh refinement strategy based on the sub-grid scale reaction progress variable, a good balance between accuracy and efficiency was achieved. Compared with the available experimental data, the simulation results showed a satisfying agreement. Furthermore, a correlation analysis was done based on the combustion phasing, peak pressure and gross indicated mean effective pressure (IMEP). Also, the effect of in-cylinder flow field on the early flame development and the peak pressure was discussed under the considered operating condition.
Chen, CeyuanAmeen, Muhsin MWei, HaiqiaoIyer, ClaudiaTing, FoochernVanderwege, BradSom, Sibendu
Highly Efficient Civil Aviation, Now via Operations - AAR and Challenges2018-01-192510/30/2018
Global civil aviation growth at 5+% yearly poses extreme environmental challenges. Advances have appeared gradually through improved aerodynamic shapes, using carbon fibres, and enhanced engines; however, as these technologies mature, direct efficiency advances require increasing effort. Often Passenger convenience is forgotten e.g. the long-range air traffic has developed on hub-spoke basis implying extra feeder flights, transit passenger inconveniences, capacity issues. Efficiency metrics emphasize “Why, How & What”, with an understanding of the range sensitivities, operational concepts and performance goals via the important “X-factor”. For given range, current aircraft are “greener” than previous generations. Medium range aircraft s are always greener than those for short or long ranges. However, currently, the major trend is for the latter: twin-aisle A350, A380, B787, B777X (10+% payload, 40+% fuel to MTOW). Shorter range single-aisle aircraft are “feeders” or newer derivatives: A320, B737 class (20+% payload, 20+% fuel to MTOW). New technologies could feature in future e.g. Natural Laminar flow, riblets, enhanced loads allevation, composite tailoring, morphing structures, distributed propulsion, bio-fuels etc. These may make significant improvements and lead to unconventional layouts e.g. blended wing bodies, high aspect ratio wings, oblique wings, and joined wings. Additionally, significant environmental gains can be made via operations e.g. AAR and Formation flying. Air-to-air refuelling (AAR) has been practised and perfected by the Military for 80+ years. Tankers are sky “gas- stations”. The Military objective is for mission success rather than fuel economy. Tankers accompany and refuel short- range aircraft over longer missions. AAR can be a strong enabler for the civil aviation. Small dedicated tankers (A320 size) can operate over short radii, refuelling longer range cruisers. AAR will always retain top hierarchy over any technological advances, offering step change towards highly efficient aviation. We discuss the pros and cons of operational issues, routing and constraints, turbulence, air navigation and environmental impact. Replacing today´s inter-continental system with AAR gives fuel and CO2 reductions of 15-30% depending on range. Additionally, 30-40% weight savings lead manufacturers focus on smaller aircraft. Major COC and DOC reductions of a similar order occur. Noise, emissions, wake effects are favourable, meeting ACARE/NASA goals. A by-product is that laminar-flow aircraft introduction can be eased. Increasing AAR benefits occur as Point A to B system replaces the hub--spoke system. The smaller AAR-cruisers imply ground-based opportunities: smaller airports and new connections, easing the transit passenger handling and reducing travel time. For sustainable aviation growth and future urbanisation, short flights are replaced by other means. The capacity relief becomes available for long flights (only aviation is suitable). Maintaining transport capacity, less AAR enabled cruisers are needed; these operate at 20+% payload to MTOW. More likely is that the total airborne mass is lower. Certification and Operational rules will need revision. New tankers or other types modified from civil aircraft respect most CS-25 regulations. We aim for automatic refuelling (as demonstrated by A330 tanker recently and as in US-UCAV programme). We allude to newer versatile twin-aisle cruisers with differing capacities operating world-wide ranges with AAR, blending with formation flying. All this should “spur/re-vitalise” Aviation. We propose practical demonstrations. A game changer in sight!
Nangia, R K
A Numerical Study on Correlation of Chemiluminescent Species and Heat Release Distributions Using Large Eddy Simulation2018-32-006610/30/2018
A mixed timescale subgrid model of a large eddy simulation was used to simulate the turbulence regime in diesel engine combustion. The combustion model used the direct integration approach with a diesel oil surrogate mechanism (developed at Chalmers University of Technology and consisting of 70 species and 309 reactions). Additional reactions for the generation and consumption of OH*, CO2*, and CH* species were added from recent kinetic studies. Collisional quenching and spontaneous emission resulted in de-excitation of the excited state radical. A phenomenological soot formation model (developed at Waseda University) was combined with the LES code. The following important steps were considered in the soot model: particle inception where naphthalene grows irreversibly to form soot, surface growth with the addition of C2H2, surface oxidation (induced by OH radicals and O2 attack), and particle coagulation. Using the aforementioned numerical approach, we investigated the correlation of the excited chemical species (OH*, CO2*, and CH*) with heat release distributions in the final stages of diesel spray combustion. The excited chemical species models performed well, indicating that heat release regions can be predicted from the concentrations of excited radical species.
Zhou, BeiniAdachi, TakayukiKusaka, JinAizawa, Tetsuya
Effect of Fuel Injection Timing on the Mixture Preparation in a Small Gasoline Direct-Injection Engine2018-32-001410/30/2018
Gasoline direct-injection (GDI) engines have evolved as a solution to meet the current demands of the automotive industry. Benefits of a GDI engine include good fuel economy, good transient response, and low cold start emissions. However, they suffer from problems, like combustion instability, misfire, and impingement of fuel on in-cylinder surfaces. Therefore, to highlight the influence of fuel injection timing on in-cylinder flow, turbulence, mixture distribution and wall impingement, a computational study is conducted on a small-bore GDI engine. Results showed that air motion inside the engine cylinder is influenced by direct-injection of fuel, with considerable variation in turbulent kinetic energy at the time of injection. Due to charge cooling effect, mixture density and trapped mass were increased by about 10.8% and 9.5%, respectively. A significant drop in mean in-cylinder temperature (about 100 °C) was observed with direct-injection of fuel as compared to the case without injection, with further variation based on injection timing. Fuel distribution near the spark plug and fuel impingement on in-cylinder surfaces are carefully evaluated. An early injection at 80 crank angle degree after top dead center of intake provided the best fuel distribution and minimum wall impingement. At the time of spark, in-cylinder turbulence was also found to be higher for this injection timing. Experimental results also indicated relatively higher brake thermal efficiency and lower emissions with early fuel injection timings, located around the mid of intake.
Jose, JubinParsi, AnilShridhara, ShrinidhiMittal, MayankRamesh, A
Compressible Brake Fluid Turbulent Flow Simulation and Experimental Verification on Brake Bleeding Performance Improvements of an EPB Caliper2018-01-187610/5/2018
Brake bleeding is the process of removing air bubbles present on hydraulic brake systems from the master cylinder to the calipers of a vehicle, including the brake pipes and hoses. This is very important procedure affecting on brake performance, but still has been a key issue in automobile industry for last decades because reaching best bleeding performance has a limit that there is always remaining air in brake system. In this paper, it is reported on numerical and experimental investigations into the topic of bleeding performance improvements. Compressible brake fluid turbulent flow simulation with two-phase mixture model was performed to investigate the details of the bleeding performance drop during its cycles. The rig test of the hollow cylinder was carried out in order to secure the brake consumption amount curve whose results were used for the criterion of the parametric simulations using Tait equation to estimate the property of the brake fluid with the bulk modulus of 19,535 bar and 0.00016%. It was observed that the experimental curve data from the rig test of the hollow cylinder is divided into two regions with high and low compressibility, and more volume change in the low region below 1 bar is required to gain the same pressure variation due to the compression of the tiny air bubbles. The improved design of the nut-spindle with 6 holes in circumferential direction was drawn for the better removal of the trapped air. The simulation of the improved model showed the manual bleeding performance improvements of 18.9% than the baseline model due to the holes effect on circulation of the trapped air. It was experimentally verified that the air bubbles from their visualization are compressed to form the smaller size bubbles in the process of pressurization and gathered on the topmost side, whereas they are again expanded to form the larger size bubbles in the process of pressure release and spread into the wider space. The bleeding performance for the improved model was also experimentally verified to be effective up to approximately 51% through the caliper performance tester.
Mo, Jang-Oh
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