GMT aerothermal modeling validation through site measurements

摘要

Validation of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) solutions using experimental data is critical as CFD simulations are regularly used for site characterization and design analysis of Extremely Large Telescopes (ELT). Site testing data for wind, temperature and optical turbulence are used to validate the GMT CFD model configuration for the construction site at Las Campanas Peak in Northern Chile. CFD simulations, both steady-state and unsteady, combined with the corresponding seeing models are performed and estimates of the Ground Layer (GL) optical turbulence are calculated. Comparisons with wind, temperature and optical turbulence profiles are made that show a good match between simulated and observed data.