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The SST turbulence model is a very powerful model for aerodynamic, external flows.
The Total Energy model is needed for compressible flows where the Ma > 0.3
Since the fluid is compressible, density depends on Absolute Pressure. The Reference Pressure chosen ensures
that the values of static pressure in the solution are not too large compared with the differences, so
minimising round-off errors.
5 2016 ANSYS, Inc. July 11, 2016
Case Setup: Coordinate Frame
The angle of attack is 1.55 degrees ().
One way of accounting for this angle is to create a new coordinate system whose z-
axis is in line with the flow direction.
We use this new coordinate system when applying boundary conditions.
Create a new coordinate frame: y
Another way of accounting for this angle of attack would be to rotate the velocities at
the inlet via expressions.
6 2016 ANSYS, Inc. July 11, 2016
Case Setup: Boundary Conditions
Create a boundary condition for the inlet:
Set cartesian velocity components based on the new coordinate system, Coord 1:
(U,V,W) = (0, 0, 0.7*340.29) [m/s]
340.29[m/s] equals Ma = 1.0 for the given free stream values,
i.e. it is the speed of sound under the prevailing conditions.
Set values for turbulence intensity and eddy viscosity ratio:
Fractional Intensity = 0.01, Eddy Viscosity Ratio = 1.0
Set the Static Temperature at the inlet:
T = 283.4 [K]
This will create an inlet boundary condition with air flowing at a speed flow with Ma =
0.7 at an angle of attack () of 1.55 deg.
7 2016 ANSYS, Inc. July 11, 2016
Case Setup: Boundary Conditions
Create a boundary condition for the outlet:
Set a relative pressure of 0 [Pa].
Create a wall boundary, called airfoil, containing the upper and lower surfaces of the
airfoil.
Create a no-slip, adiabatic wall.
Create symmetry boundary conditions for the bottom and the top of the domain.
Duplicate the first monitor (right click on the monitor object in the Outline Tree) and edit the expression
in the copy. Rename the new monitor.
Functions, variables & expressions are available in the expression details tab (RMB).
The expressions must match the names for the airfoil and inlet (free stream) boundary
conditions. Check how you named them.
10 2016 ANSYS, Inc. July 11, 2016
Run Calculation
Close CFX-Pre.
Save the project to airfoil.wbpj in your working
directory.
Start the run.
Review the convergence plots.
Click User Points to review the lift and drag
coefficient convergence.
From Reference [1], cl = 0.241 and cd = 0.0079
Compare with the simulation results and determine the
relative error for these quantities.
Later we will see how to improve the results in a Best
Practice Study.
We will compare the simulation results with experimental data for the pressure
coefficient, cP, on the upper and lower surfaces of the airfoil.
The pressure coefficient is a dimensionless quantity representing the ratio of static
to dynamic pressure, calculated as:
cP = 2(p-p)/(u)
where indicates free stream values.
It is used to assess pressure distribution for different designs.
Task:
Run the simulation (with the new settings from the last slide) twice more. For the second run
switch on Double Precision. Compare the drag and lift coefficients displayed in the User Points
monitor.
If you see a difference, then DOUBLE PRECISION should be used.
(Why? In this case there are some very high aspect ratio grid cells.)
(The predicted value of the drag coefficient is 0.230, compared with 0.232 for single precision.
The predicted value of the lift coefficient was .0146, compared with .0147 for double precision)
Task:
Look at the residuals in the Solver Manager.
If we switch to the Max Residuals, we can see that those for Mass and Momentum
are still > 1e-3
The Monitor Points for Lift and Drag are not converged.
The Imbalances are low (< 0.1 %).
Task:
Recompute this simulation and examine the results for the mesh files:
1) naca0012medium.cfx5
2) naca0012fine.cfx5
Duplicate the system and right-click on the Imported Mesh cell to import the new mesh.
We expect you will observe that:
There is a big difference between the solutions on the coarse and medium meshes.
The results from the medium and the fine mesh are almost identical.
Therefore we should use the mesh: naca0012medium.cfx5.
Task:
We know that, a proper resolution of the boundary layer will have a strong
influence on the quality of the solution of this test case. This is guarantueed by a
proper mesh resolution and the automatic wall treatment of the SST turbulence
model.
Change to the k-epsilon turbulence model and recompute the flow. This model
applies a scalable wall function, which cannot resolve the influence of the viscous
sublayer.
Check the influence on the results.
27 2016 ANSYS, Inc. July 11, 2016
Test 5: Systematic Errors
Systematic Errors arise from the workflow and assumptions that have been made. For
example:
The geometry might have been simplified (Fillets removed).
Only part of the device is simulated (just a single turbine blade).
Steady-state simulation of a naturally unsteady flow.
We do not suggest that you explore Systematic Errors here since that would
modification of the original geometry.
One of the important things to remember in your own work is, before even starting the ANSYS
software, is to think WHY you are performing the simulation:
What information are you looking for?
What do you know about the flow conditions?
In this case we were interested in the lift (and drag) generated by a standard airfoil and how
well the solver predicted these when compared to high quality experimental data.
Knowing your aims from the start will help you make sensible decisions about how much of the
part to simulate, the level of mesh refinement needed, and which numerical schemes to select.
T.J. Coakley, Numerical Simulation of Viscous Transonic Airfoil Flows, NASA Ames
Research Center, AIAA-87-0416, 1987.