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Article
Publication date: 8 May 2018

Stephie Edwige, Yoann Eulalie, Philippe Gilotte and Iraj Mortazavi

The purpose of this paper is to present numerical investigations of the flow dynamic characteristics of a 47° Ahmed Body to identify wake flow control strategy leading to drag…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present numerical investigations of the flow dynamic characteristics of a 47° Ahmed Body to identify wake flow control strategy leading to drag coefficient reduction, which could be tested later on sport utility vehicles.

Design/methodology/approach

This study begins with a mean flow topology description owing to dynamic and spectral analysis of the aerodynamic tensor. Then, the sparse promoting dynamic modal decomposition method is discussed and compared to other modal approaches. This method is then applied on the wall and wake pressure to determine frequencies of the highest energy pressure modes and their transfers to other frequency modes. This analysis is then used to design appropriated feedback flow control strategies.

Findings

This dynamic modal decomposition highlights a reduced number of modes at low frequency which drive the flow dynamics. The authors especially notice that the pressure mode at a Strouhal number of 0.22, based on the width between feet, induces aerodynamic losses close to the rear end. Strategy of the proposed control loop enables to dampen the energy of this mode, but it has been transferred to lower frequency mode outside of the selected region of interest.

Originality/value

This analysis and methodology of feedback control shows potential drag reduction with appropriated modal energy transfer management.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. 28 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 16 December 2021

Le Dian Zheng, Yi Yang, Guang Lin Qiang and Zhengqi Gu

This paper aims to propose a precise turbulence model for automobile aerodynamics simulation, which can predict flow separation and reattachment phenomena more accurately.

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to propose a precise turbulence model for automobile aerodynamics simulation, which can predict flow separation and reattachment phenomena more accurately.

Design/methodology/approach

As the results of wake flow simulation with commonly used turbulence models are unsatisfactory, by introducing a nonlinear Reynolds stress term and combining the detached Eddy simulation (DES) model, this paper proposes a nonlinear-low-Reynolds number (LRN)/DES turbulence model. The turbulence model is verified in a backward-facing step case and applied in the flow field analysis of the Ahmed model. Several widely applied turbulence models are compared with the nonlinear-LRN/DES model and the experimental data of the above cases.

Findings

Compared with the experimental data and several turbulence models, the nonlinear-LRN/DES model gives better agreement with the experiment and can predict the automobile wake flow structures and aerodynamic characteristics more accurately.

Research limitations/implications

The nonlinear-LRN/DES model proposed in this paper suffers from separation delays when simulating the separation flows above the rear slant of the Ahmed body. Therefore, more factors need to be considered to further improve the accuracy of the model.

Practical implications

This paper proposes a turbulence model that can more accurately simulate the wake flow field structure of automobiles, which is valuable for improving the calculation accuracy of the aerodynamic characteristics of automobiles.

Originality/value

Based on the nonlinear eddy viscosity method and the scale resolved simulation, a nonlinear-LRN/DES turbulence model including the nonlinear Reynolds stress terms for separation and reattachment prediction, as well as the wake vortex structure prediction is first proposed.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. 32 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 30 December 2021

Xiaolong Yang, Zhuangzhi Liu and Yu Hu

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the mechanism and performance of a potential strategy, which is to enhance turbulence to carry out drag reduction for heavy trucks.

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the mechanism and performance of a potential strategy, which is to enhance turbulence to carry out drag reduction for heavy trucks.

Design/methodology/approach

Enhancing turbulence deflector (ETD) was placed on the roof surface of an ground transportation system (GTS) to investigate the drag reduction mechanism of enhancing turbulence. Transition shear-stress transport improved delay detach eddy simulation model was adopted to simulate the unsteady small-scale flow around the ETD.

Findings

By optimizing the three influencing factors, diameter, streamwise length and streamwise position, the optimized ETD has achieved a maximum drag reduction of 7.04%. The analysis of flow field results shows that enhancing turbulence can effectively suppress flow separation and reduce the negative pressure intensity in the wake region of GTS.

Originality/value

The present work provides another potential possibility for the improvement of the aerodynamic performance of heavy trucks.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. 32 no. 8
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 8 January 2024

Tong-Tong Lin, Ming-Zhi Yang, Lei Zhang, Tian-Tian Wang, Yu Tao and Sha Zhong

The aerodynamic differences between the head car (HC) and tail car (TC) of a high-speed maglev train are significant, resulting in control difficulties and safety challenges in…

Abstract

Purpose

The aerodynamic differences between the head car (HC) and tail car (TC) of a high-speed maglev train are significant, resulting in control difficulties and safety challenges in operation. The arch structure has a significant effect on the improvement of the aerodynamic lift of the HC and TC of the maglev train. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the effect of a streamlined arch structure on the aerodynamic performance of a 600 km/h maglev train.

Design/methodology/approach

Three typical streamlined arch structures for maglev trains are selected, i.e. single-arch, double-arch and triple-arch maglev trains. The vortex structure, pressure of train surface, boundary layer, slipstream and aerodynamic forces of the maglev trains with different arch structures are compared by adopting improved delayed detached eddy simulation numerical calculation method. The effects of the arch structures on the aerodynamic performance of the maglev train are analyzed.

Findings

The dynamic topological structure of the wake flow shows that a change in arch structure can reduce the vortex size in the wake region; the vortex size with double-arch and triple-arch maglev trains is reduced by 15.9% and 23%, respectively, compared with a single-arch maglev train. The peak slipstream decreases with an increase in arch structures; double-arch and triple-arch maglev trains reduce it by 8.89% and 16.67%, respectively, compared with a single-arch maglev train. The aerodynamic force indicates that arch structures improve the lift imbalance between the HC and TC of a maglev train; double-arch and triple-arch maglev trains improve it by 22.4% and 36.8%, respectively, compared to a single-arch maglev train.

Originality/value

This study compares the effects of a streamlined arch structure on a maglev train and its surrounding flow field. The results of the study provide data support for the design and safe operation of high-speed maglev trains.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 8 May 2018

Yoann Eulalie, Elisabeth Fournier, Philippe Gilotte, David Holst, Shaun Johnson, Christian Navid Nayeri, Thomas Schütz and Dirk Wieser

This paper aims to present an experimental investigation of an active flow control solution mounted at rear of a sport utility vehicle (SUV) with the objective of drag reduction…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to present an experimental investigation of an active flow control solution mounted at rear of a sport utility vehicle (SUV) with the objective of drag reduction, thanks to a selection of flow control parameters leading to a pressure increase on the tailgate.

Design/methodology/approach

A flow control design of experiments was conducted with a pulsed jet system mounted on the top and sides of the rear window of the vehicle. The wall pressure, instantaneous velocity and drag were measured with this prototype in a wind tunnel. A dynamic modal decomposition (DMD) analysis of the pressure enables to describe the pressure fluctuations. Fluid dynamic computations show relation between pressure and velocity fields.

Findings

Measurements with this prototype in the wind tunnel revealed small improvements in drag for the best flow control configurations. This small benefit is because of the core of the upper span wise vortex further away from the rear window than the lower span wise vortex. These small improvements in drag were confirmed with pressure measurements on the rear window and tailgate. The DMD analysis of the surface pressure showed a low frequency pendulum oscillation on the lower area of the tailgate, linked with low velocity frequencies in the shear layers near the tailgate.

Originality/value

Experimental and numerical results show interest to increase pressure at bottom of the rear end of this SUV prototype. The dynamic description of the wall pressure shows importance of flow control solutions reducing pressure fluctuations at low frequencies in the lower area of the tailgate.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. 28 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 20 December 2019

Yuxi Luo, Fengbo Wen, Rui Hou, Shuai Wang, Songtao Wang and Zhongqi Wang

The purpose of this paper devoted to the application of modal analysis to analyze the flow structure of trailing edge cutback film cooling and the effects of vortex structure on…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper devoted to the application of modal analysis to analyze the flow structure of trailing edge cutback film cooling and the effects of vortex structure on the film cooling effectiveness of the cutback surface.

Design/methodology/approach

Large eddy simulation (LES) is used to simulate the trailing edge cutback film cooling. The results of LES are analyzed by proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) method and dynamic mode decomposition (DMD) method. The POD method is used to determine the dominated vortex structure and the energy level of these structures. The DMD method is used to analyze the relationship between vortex structures and wall temperature.

Findings

The POD method shows that the flow field consists of three main vortices – streamwise vortex, lip vortex and coolant vortex. The DMD results show that the lip vortex mainly acts on the middle section of the cutback surface, while the streamwise vortex mainly acts on the back section of the cutback surface.

Research limitations/implications

The modal analysis is only based on numerical simulation but the modal analysis of experimental results will be further studied in the future.

Practical implications

This paper presents the powerful ability of the modal analysis method to study complex flows in trailing edge cutback film cooling. Establishing the relationship between vortex and wall temperature by modal analysis method can provide a new idea for studying convective heat transfer problems.

Originality/value

The role of streamwise vortex in the flow of the trailing edge cutback cooling and its effect on the cooling effectiveness of the cutback surface is found.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. 30 no. 8
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 29 February 2024

Zhen Chen, Jing Liu, Chao Ma, Huawei Wu and Zhi Li

The purpose of this study is to propose a precise and standardized strategy for numerically simulating vehicle aerodynamics.

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to propose a precise and standardized strategy for numerically simulating vehicle aerodynamics.

Design/methodology/approach

Error sources in computational fluid dynamics were analyzed. Additionally, controllable experiential and discretization errors, which significantly influence the calculated results, are expounded upon. Considering the airflow mechanism around a vehicle, the computational efficiency and accuracy of each solution strategy were compared and analyzed through numerous computational cases. Finally, the most suitable numerical strategy, including the turbulence model, simplified vehicle model, calculation domain, boundary conditions, grids and discretization scheme, was identified. Two simplified vehicle models were introduced, and relevant wind tunnel tests were performed to validate the selected strategy.

Findings

Errors in vehicle computational aerodynamics mainly stem from the unreasonable simplification of the vehicle model, calculation domain, definite solution conditions, grid strategy and discretization schemes. Using the proposed standardized numerical strategy, the simulated steady and transient aerodynamic characteristics agreed well with the experimental results.

Originality/value

Building upon the modified Low-Reynolds Number k-e model and Scale Adaptive Simulation model, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, a precise and standardized numerical simulation strategy for vehicle aerodynamics is proposed for the first time, which can be integrated into vehicle research and design.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 5 October 2015

Junting Xiang, Jorg Uwe Schlüter and Fei Duan

– This paper aims to validate and analyse the NASA35 axial compressor performance based on a numerical approach.

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to validate and analyse the NASA35 axial compressor performance based on a numerical approach.

Design/methodology/approach

Knowledge about flow property change during compressor operation at high and relatively low speed is still limited. This work provides a numerical approach to address these problems. Validation of numerical methods is proposed to generate confidence the numerical approach adopted, and after that, analysis of compressor performance at different operation conditions is carried out.

Findings

The numerical methods proposed are proved capable in predicting compressor performance. Changes of flow property during compressor operation are discussed and explained.

Research limitations/implications

The current numerical work is carried out based on the first stage of the NASA35 axial compressor, where the interactive effects from adjacent stage are not counted in. Furthermore, the steady-state simulation enforces an averaging of flow at rotor-stator interface, where the transient rotor-stator interaction is removed.

Practical implications

This work validates the numerical methods used in the prediction of NASA35 axial compressor performance, and a similar numerical approach can be used for other turbomachinery simulation cases.

Originality/value

This work reinforces the understanding of axial compressor operation and provides reliable results for further investigation of a similar type of compressor. In addition, details of flow field within the NASA35 compressor during operation are given and explained which experiments still have difficult to achieve.

Details

Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology: An International Journal, vol. 87 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0002-2667

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 25 October 2021

Philippe Gilotte, Iraj Mortazavi, Alfonso Colon de Carvajal, Stephie Edwige and Christian Navid Nayeri

The purpose of this paper is to study pressure measurement correlations, as the location of the pressure sensors should enable to capture variation of the drag force depending on…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study pressure measurement correlations, as the location of the pressure sensors should enable to capture variation of the drag force depending on the yaw angle and some geometrical modifications.

Design/methodology/approach

The present aerodynamical study, performed on a reduced scale mock-up representing a sport utility vehicle, involves both numerical and experimental investigations. Experiments performed in a wind tunnel facility deal with drag and pressure measurements related to the side wind variation. The pressure sensor locations are deduced from wall streamlines computed from large eddy simulation results on the external surfaces of the mock-up.

Findings

After validation of the drag coefficient (Cd) values computed with an aerodynamic balance, measurements should only imply pressure tap mounted on the vehicle to perform real driving emission (RDE) tests.

Originality/value

Relation presented in this paper between pressure coefficients measured on a side sensor and the drag coefficient data must enable to better quantify the drag force contribution of a ground vehicle in RDE tests.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. 32 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 23 September 2022

Hang-Wei Wan, Yu-Quan Wen and Qi Zhang

The reaction dynamics of combustible clouds at high temperatures and pressures are a common form of energy output in aerospace and explosion accidents. The cloud explosion process…

Abstract

Purpose

The reaction dynamics of combustible clouds at high temperatures and pressures are a common form of energy output in aerospace and explosion accidents. The cloud explosion process is often affected by the external initial conditions. This study aims to numerically study the effects of airflow velocity, initial temperature and fuel concentration on the explosion behavior of isopropyl nitrate/air mixture in a semiconstrained combustor.

Design/methodology/approach

The discrete-phase model was adopted to consider the interaction between the gas-phase and droplet particles. A wave model was applied to the droplet breakup. A finite rate/eddy dissipation model was used to simulate the explosion process of the fuel cloud.

Findings

The peak pressure and temperature growth rate both decrease with the increasing initial temperature (1,000–2,200 K) of the combustor at a lower airflow velocity. The peak pressure increases with the increase of airflow velocity (50–100 m/s), whereas the peak temperature is not sensitive to the initial high temperature. The peak pressure of the two-phase explosion decreases with concentration (200–1,500 g/m3), whereas the peak temperature first increases and then decreases as the concentration increases.

Practical implications

Chain explosion reactions often occur under high-temperature, high-pressure and turbulent conditions. This study aims to provide prevention and data support for a gas–liquid two-phase explosion.

Originality/value

Sustained turbulence is realized by continuously injecting air and liquid fuel into a semiconfined high-temperature and high-pressure combustor to obtain the reaction dynamic parameters of a two-phase explosion.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. 33 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Keywords

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