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Large Eddy Simulation of a complete Harrier aircraft in ground effect

2009; Cambridge University Press; Volume: 113; Issue: 1140 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1017/s0001924000002827

2059-6464

Gary Page, J. J. McGuirk,

Plasma and Flow Control in Aerodynamics

Abstract This paper aims to demonstrate the viability of using the large eddy simulation (LES) CFD methodology to model a representative, complete STOVL aircraft geometry at touch down. The flowfield beneath such a jet-borne vertical landing aircraft is inherently unsteady. Hence, it is argued in the present work that the LES technique is the most suitable tool to predict both the mean flow and unsteady fluctuations, and, with further development and validation testing, this approach could be a replacement, and certainly a complementary aid, to expensive rig programmes. The numerical method uses a compressible solver on a mixed element unstructured mesh. Examination of instantaneous flowfield predictions from these LES calculations indicate close similarity with many flow features identified from ground effect flow visualisations, which are well known to be difficult to model using RANS-based CFD. Whilst significant further work needs to be carried out, these calculations show that LES could be a practical tool to model, for example, Hot Gas Ingestion for the Joint Strike Fighter aircraft.