Pre-Analysis

1. Mathematical model
2. Numerical solution procedure
3. Hand-calculations of expected results/trends

Reynolds Number

• Reynolds number = = 6 × 10
• Flow is turbulent for airfoils at this Reynolds number

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Turbulent Flow
• Turbulent flow: Fluctuating but
not about the laminar solution
• Reynolds decomposition:
– = + ′

From ANSYS training documentation. Used courtesy of ANSYS, Inc.

Reynolds-Averaged Continuity Equation

+ =0

= + ′

= + ′

′=0

̅
+ =0

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Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes Equations (RANS)

+ + =− +

̅ ̅
+ + ̅ =− + − +

̅ ̅
+ + ̅ =− +

+ − + (− )

̅ ̅
+ ̅ =− + + ̅ ,

Eddy-Viscosity Turbulence Models

Viscous Shear Stress Turbulent Shear Stress

+ ∆ + ∆

= + = +

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 − Eddy-Viscosity Turbulence Model

• k: Turbulent kinetic energy

– Measure of how much energy is
contained in the fluctuations
• : Turbulent dissipation
– Measure of the rate at which
turbulent kinetic energy is
dissipated

• ≈
• Two additional conservation
equations: one each for and

Governing Equations Summary

̅
+ =0

̅ ̅
+ ̅ =− + + ̅ ,

̅ ̅ ̅
+ ̅ =− + ̅+ ̅ ,

Conservation equation for

Conservation equation for

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Domain and Boundary Conditions

Pre-Analysis: Numerical Solution Strategy

• Divide flow domain into
control volumes or “cells”
• Derive algebraic equations
relating ( , ̅ , ̅ , , ) at each
cell center to neighboring cell
center values
• Linearize algebraic equations
about guess values
• Solve iteratively to get cell
center values
• Derive all other quantities of
interest such as lift from cell
center values

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Expected Results

• Thin airfoil theory

– Lift coefficient: = =2 − =1.1
( )

Experimental Data

• See NASA webpage on NACA 0012

airfoil validation
– http://turbmodels.larc.nasa.gov/naca0
012_val.html
• . : Gregory and O'Reilly (1970)

(deg.)
10.12-10.18 1.07-1.08 0.012
Ladson (1988)

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Expected Results
−
=
0.5

• Thin airfoil theory

– Lift coefficient: = =2 − =1.1
( )

Verification Steps
1. Sanity checks
2. Does the CFD solution honor the
boundary conditions in the mathematical
model?
3. Does the CFD solution honor the
physical principles in the mathematical
model?
– Check mass and momentum
conservation in the domain
4. Is the linearization error acceptable?
5. Is the discretization error acceptable?
– Perform mesh refinement studies
6. Does the CFD solution match hand
calculations?

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 Structure of Turbulent Boundary Layer

From ANSYS training documentation. Used courtesy of ANSYS, Inc.

yplus
Dimensional velocity profile Non-dimensional velocity profile
Sublayer Log-layer

High gradients close to the wall

+= / +=

= “Friction Velocity”

Images from ANSYS training documentation. Used courtesy of ANSYS, Inc.

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