Ehab Fares

Unsteady Flow Simulation of a High-Lift configuration using a Lattice Boltzmann Approach

A Lattice-Boltzmann Method (LBM) based approach combined with a very large eddy simulation (VLES) turbulence modeling is used for the unsteady simulation of the flow field around the high-lift configuration used in the first AIAA high-lift prediction workshop. The numerical approach as well as the meshing technique is briefly described. The simulations are conducted first for some selected angle of attacks and configurations prescribed within the workshop and compared to the available experimental results. Several investigations are presented including a resolution study, the influence of added geometrical details and the laminar to turbulence transition in the simulation. In a second step the simulation domain is extended to include the wind tunnel walls in an effort to predict the blockage and installation effects of the wind tunnel and compare with the uncorrected force and moment measurements.

Towards Full Aircraft Airframe Noise Prediction: Lattice Boltzmann Simulations

Computational results for an 18%-scale, semi-span Gulfstream aircraft model are presented. Exa Corporation’s lattice Boltzmann PowerFLOW® solver was used to perform time-dependent simulations of the flow field associated with this high-fidelity aircraft model. The simulations were obtained for free-air at a Mach number of 0.2 with the flap deflected at 39o (landing configuration). We focused on accurately predicting the prominent noise sources at the flap tips and main landing gear for the two baseline configurations, namely, landing flap setting without and with gear deployed. Capitalizing on the inherently transient nature of the lattice Boltzmann formulation, the complex time-dependent flow features associated with the flap were resolved very accurately and efficiently. To properly simulate the noise sources over a broad frequency range, the tailored grid was very dense near the flap inboard and outboard tips. Extensive comparison of the computed time-averaged and unsteady surface pressures with wind tunnel measurements showed excellent agreement for the global aerodynamic characteristics and the local flow field at the flap inboard and outboard tips and the main landing gear. In particular, the computed fluctuating surface pressure field for the flap agreed well with the measurements in both amplitude and frequency content, indicating that the prominent airframe noise sources at the tips were captured successfully. Gear-flap interaction effects were remarkably well predicted and were shown to affect only the inboard flap tip, altering the steady and unsteady pressure fields in that region. The simulated farfield noise spectra for both baseline configurations, obtained using a Ffowcs-Williams and Hawkings acoustic analogy approach, were shown to be in close agreement with measured values.

Lattice–Boltzmann Aeroacoustic Analysis of the LAGOON Landing-Gear Configuration

The unsteady flowfield about the ONERA–The French Aerospace Lab/Airbus SAS LAGOON two-wheel landing-gear configuration and the associated aerodynamic noise generation are computed using a hybrid approach in which the flowfield is provided by a lattice–Boltzmann simulation, and the noise radiation is computed using the Ffowcs-Williams–Hawkings analogy. A detailed validation study is carried out, following the guidelines of the second AIAA workshop on Benchmark Problems for Airframe Noise Computations and using the complete experimental database for detailed comparisons. The effect of grid resolution on both near- and far-field results is investigated, showing the physical consistency of the numerical model. In addition, an assessment of the numerical prediction is carried out by computing the maximum perceived noise level along a nominal approach trajectory. Finally, an unsteady flow mechanism involving the onset of cavity modes in the two facing rim cavities is analyzed in detail and correlated with the g...

Numerical Simulation of Fluidic Actuators for Flow Control Applications

Active flow control technology is finding increasing use in aerospace applications to control flow separation and improve aerodynamic performance. In this paper we examine the characteristics of a class of fluidic actuators that are being considered for active flow control applications for a variety of practical problems. Based on recent experimental work, such actuators have been found to be more efficient for controlling flow separation in terms of mass flow requirements compared to constant blowing and suction or even synthetic jet actuators. The fluidic actuators produce spanwise oscillating jets, and therefore are also known as sweeping jets. The frequency and spanwise sweeping extent depend on the geometric parameters and mass flow rate entering the actuators through the inlet section. The flow physics associated with these actuators is quite complex and not fully understood at this time. The unsteady flow generated by such actuators is simulated using the lattice Boltzmann based solver PowerFLOW R . Computed mean and standard deviation of velocity profiles generated by a family of fluidic actuators in quiescent air are compared with experimental data. Simulated results replicate the experimentally observed trends with parametric variation of geometry and inflow conditions.

Advanced Noise Control Fan Direct Aeroacoustics Predictions using a Lattice-Boltzmann Method

A Lattice-Boltzmann Method (LBM) based approach is used to perform transient, explicit and compressible CFD/CAA simulations on the Advanced Noise Control Fan (ANCF) configuration. The complete 3-D ducted rotor/stator model including all the geometrical details and the truly rotating rotor is simulated. Detailed near and far-field measurements conducted at the NASA Glenn research center are used to validate the simulation results. The measured and predicted sound pressure levels at the far-field microphones are compared and both show the presence of broadband noise and sharp peaks which frequencies depend on the number of rotor blades and the angular velocity of the rotor. The 3-D duct acoustics modes observed in experiments are also captured in the 3-D transient CFD/CAA calculation and detailed analyses of the results are presented. The main circumferential modes predicted from the number of rotor blades and stator vanes are recovered in both experimental and simulation modal decompositions.

Evaluation of Airframe Noise Reduction Concepts via Simulations Using a Lattice Boltzmann Approach

Unsteady computations are presented for a high-fidelity, 18% scale, semi-span Gulfstream aircraft model in landing configuration, i.e. flap deflected at 39 degree and main landing gear deployed. The simulations employ the lattice Boltzmann solver PowerFLOW to simultaneously capture the flow physics and acoustics in the near field. Sound propagation to the far field is obtained using a Ffowcs Williams and Hawkings acoustic analogy approach. In addition to the baseline geometry, which was presented previously, various noise reduction concepts for the flap and main landing gear are simulated. In particular, care is taken to fully resolve the complex geometrical details associated with these concepts in order to capture the resulting intricate local flow field thus enabling accurate prediction of their acoustic behavior. To determine aeroacoustic performance, the farfield noise predicted with the concepts applied is compared to high-fidelity simulations of the untreated baseline configurations. To assess the accuracy of the computed results, the aerodynamic and aeroacoustic impact of the noise reduction concepts is evaluated numerically and compared to experimental results for the same model. The trends and effectiveness of the simulated noise reduction concepts compare well with measured values and demonstrate that the computational approach is capable of capturing the primary effects of the acoustic treatment on a full aircraft model.

Towards Lattice-Boltzmann Prediction of Turbofan Engine Noise

The goal of the present paper is to report verification and validation studies carried out by Exa Corporation in the framework of turbofan engine noise prediction through the hybrid Lattice-Boltzmann/Ffowcs-Williams & Hawkings approach (LB)-(FW-H). The underlying noise generation and propagation mechanisms related to the jet flow field and the fan are addressed separately by considering a series of elementary numerical experiments. As far as fan and jet noise generation is concerned, validation studies are performed by comparing the LB solutions with literature experimental data, whereas, for the fan noise transmission through and radiation from the engine intake and bypass ducts, LB solutions are compared with finite element solutions of convected wave equations. In particular, for the fan noise propagation, specific verification analyses are carried out by considering tonal spinning duct modes in the presence of a liner, which is modelled as an equivalent acoustic porous medium. Finally, a capability overview is presented for a comprehensive turbofan engine noise prediction, by performing LB simulation for a generic but realistic turbofan engine configuration.

Simulation-Based Airframe Noise Prediction of a Full-Scale, Full Aircraft

A previously validated computational approach applied to an 18%-scale, semi-span Gulfstream aircraft model was extended to the full-scale, full-span aircraft in the present investigation. The full-scale flap and main landing gear geometries used in the simulations are nearly identical to those flown on the actual aircraft. The lattice Boltzmann solver PowerFLOW was used to perform time-accurate predictions of the flow field associated with this aircraft. The simulations were performed at a Mach number of 0.2 with the flap deflected 39 deg. and main landing gear deployed (landing configuration). Special attention was paid to the accurate prediction of major sources of flap tip and main landing gear noise. Computed farfield noise spectra for three selected baseline configurations (flap deflected 39 deg. with and without main gear extended, and flap deflected 0 deg. with gear deployed) are presented. The flap brackets are shown to be important contributors to the farfield noise spectra in the mid- to high-frequency range. Simulated farfield noise spectra for the baseline configurations, obtained using a Ffowcs Williams and Hawkings acoustic analogy approach, were found to be in close agreement with acoustic measurements acquired during the 2006 NASA-Gulfstream joint flight test of the same aircraft.

Validation of a Lattice-Boltzmann Approach for Transonic and Supersonic Flow Simulations

A novel three-dimensional Lattice-Boltzmann Method (LBM) based approach for compressible flow in the transonic and supersonic flow regime is validated against theoretical and experimental findings for fundamental flows. The basic equations of the 39state Lattice-Boltzmann for mass and momentum conservation are briefly outlined. Validation results demonstrate the capability of the current Lattice-Boltzmann approach to accurately capture shocks and reproduce the complex flow structure in transonic flows. The method can easily handle very complex geometries and simulate unsteady flow phenomena.

Numerical Simulations of the Transient Flow Response of a 3D, Low-Aspect-Ratio Wing to Pulsed Actuation

Numerical simulations of the natural and actuated unsteady flow over a three-dimensional low-aspect ratio wing are performed using Lattice Boltzmann method. The LBM simulations match the flow conditions and the detailed wing geometry from previous experiments, including the actuators that are installed internally along the leading edge of the wing. The present study focuses on the transient lift response to short-duration square-wave actuation, for the wing in a uniform flow at five different angles of attack. Overall, both mean and unsteady numerical results show good agreement with the experimental data, in particular at the post-stall angle of attack 19 � , where the maximum lift enhancement occurs. At that angle of attack, the effects of the actuation strength and duration are investigated. In general, the lift response to a single pulse increases with increasing actuator mass-flow rate and pulse duration.