Aerodynamic flow simulation using the vortex cloud method to predict the performance of lifting bodies.

摘要

The purpose of this work is to develop and evaluate a vortex cloud method which simulates the flow over airfoil sections at low Reynolds numbers. The current state of the art consists of a good base of modern experimental data, but relies on modeling techniques based on and validated with high Reynolds number flow tools. The method continuously injects elements of vorticity within the flow filed and tracks their movement over time. The convective velocity is determined from the inviscid velocity component due to bodies within the flow field, interaction with other free vortices as well as a random component. The random component is based on the "random walk" model and is scaled to the Reynolds number. An assessment of the vortex cloud model is presented for a range of angles of attack and a range of airfoils along with the implementation of a graphical user interface that allows the user to watch the flow development.