Large Eddy Simulations of Scaled Wind-Tunnel Experiments for Ship Airwake Analysis
Open Access
- Author:
- Farish, David
- Graduate Program:
- Aerospace Engineering
- Degree:
- Master of Science
- Document Type:
- Master Thesis
- Date of Defense:
- July 07, 2020
- Committee Members:
- Sven Schmitz, Thesis Advisor/Co-Advisor
Joseph Francis Horn, Committee Member
Mark David Maughmer, Committee Member
Amy Ruth Pritchett, Program Head/Chair - Keywords:
- Large Eddy Simulations
LES
Computational Fluid Dynamics
CFD
Ship Airwake
Aerodynamics
Wind Tunnel Validation - Abstract:
- With modern advancements in computational resources, higher fidelity simulations of the ship-rotorcraft dynamic interface using large eddy simulations are now more feasible. Wind tunnel experiments remain one of the best verification and validation tools for computational fluid dynamics simulations, but it is challenging to recreate full-scale ship and atmospheric conditions in such an environment. To serve as a bridge between scaled wind tunnel experiments and full-scale dynamic interface computations, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University's Boundary-Layer Wind Tunnel was modeled in large eddy simulations. The main goal was to investigate the atmospheric boundary layer's effect on the airwake of a 1:235 scale Simple Frigate Shape 2 model. Cowdrey rods were used in the wind tunnel to develop the turbulence and momentum deficit characteristic of the atmospheric boundary layer. Hot-wire anemometry measurements and Particle Image Velocimetry snapshots were compared to OpenFOAM computational data. In uniform inflow conditions, it was found that despite the reduced Reynolds number of the scaled setup, the computational airwake data agreed quite well with larger scale wind tunnel experiments and full-scale large eddy simulations of the Simple Frigate Shape 2. Comparisons of the experimental and computational simulated atmospheric boundary-layer inflow show good agreement in the time-averaged velocity profile, velocity/turbulence intensity contours along the ship's centerline, and velocity probes on the flight deck of the model.