ARMY-NASA Partnership at Lewis Research Center
Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is used to predict
and analyze the complex flow physics in engine components. The ability to accurately
predict the aerothermodynamic and heat transfer phenomena in turbomachinery and combustor
flow fields, including surface thermal loading, is continuously refined through on-going
code development and experimental validation. The broad spectrum of CFD work includes
turbomachinery performance predictions. One such effort is a time-accurate Navier-Stokes
code developed to analyze the unsteady flow in the wave rotor, a turbomachinery component
proposed for topping turboshaft engines. The multi-block code models the multiple
stationary inlet and outlet ports and the moving rotor passages. The finite-volume form of
the governing equations are integrated in time using an explicit Runge-Kutta scheme. The
inviscid flux vectors are upwind-differenced to accurately resolve gas dynamic waves. The
wave rotor code is used to analyze the details of the passage opening and closing
processes and the effects of inlet port geometry variations on the evolution of the rotor
flow fields. The code is validated using data from a wave rotor experiment and is
providing a prediction of performance of a future wave rotor experiment.
POC: Dr. Gerard E. Welch
Using the CFD code to analyze the Wave Rotor concept
Send all comments to 
aeromaster@eng.fiu.edu
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Updated: February 17, 1999
