ALBERT

Description: Panel method computer programs are software tools of moderate cost used for solving a wide range of engineering problems. The panel code PMARC_12 (Panel Method Ames Research Center, version 12) can compute the potential flow field around complex three-dimensional bodies such as complete aircraft models. PMARC_12 is a well-documented, highly structured code with an open architecture that facilitates modifications and the addition of new features. Adjustable arrays are used throughout the code, with dimensioning controlled by a set of parameter statements contained in an include file; thus, the size of the code (i.e. the number of panels that it can handle) can be changed very quickly. This allows the user to tailor PMARC_12 to specific problems and computer hardware constraints. In addition, PMARC_12 can be configured (through one of the parameter statements in the include file) so that the code's iterative matrix solver is run entirely in RAM, rather than reading a large matrix from disk at each iteration. This significantly increases the execution speed of the code, but it requires a large amount of RAM memory. PMARC_12 contains several advanced features, including internal flow modeling, a time-stepping wake model for simulating either steady or unsteady (including oscillatory) motions, a Trefftz plane induced drag computation, off-body and on-body streamline computations, and computation of boundary layer parameters using a two-dimensional integral boundary layer method along surface streamlines. In a panel method, the surface of the body over which the flow field is to be computed is represented by a set of panels. Singularities are distributed on the panels to perturb the flow field around the body surfaces. PMARC_12 uses constant strength source and doublet distributions over each panel, thus making it a low order panel method. Higher order panel methods allow the singularity strength to vary linearly or quadratically across each panel. Experience has shown that low order panel methods can provide nearly the same accuracy as higher order methods over a wide range of cases with significantly reduced computation times; hence, the low order formulation was adopted for PMARC_12. The flow problem is solved by modeling the body as a closed surface dividing space into two regions: the region external to the surface in which an unknown velocity potential exists representing the flow field of interest, and the region internal to the surface in which a known velocity potential (representing a fictitious flow) is prescribed as a boundary condition. Both velocity potentials are required to satisfy Laplace's equation. A surface integral equation for the unknown potential external to the surface can be written by applying Green's Theorem to the external region. Using the internal potential and zero flow through the surface as boundary conditions, the unknown potential external to the surface can be solved for. When the internal flow option, which allows the analysis of closed ducts, wind tunnels, and similar internal flow problems, is selected, the geometry is modeled such that the flow field of interest is inside the geometry and the fictitious flow is outside the geometry. Items such as wings, struts, or aircraft models can be included in the internal flow problem. The time-stepping wake model gives PMARC_12 the ability to model both steady and unsteady flow problems. The wake is convected downstream from the wake-separation line by the local velocity field. With each time step, a new row of wake panels is added to the wake at the wake-separation line. Time stepping can start from time t=0 (no initial wake) or from time t=t0 (an initial wake is specified). A wide range of motions can be prescribed, including constant rates of translation, constant rate of rotation about an arbitrary axis, oscillatory translation, and oscillatory rotation about any of the three coordinate axes. Investigators interested in a visual representation of the phenomenon they are studying with PMARC_12 may want to consider obtaining the program GVS (ARC-13361), the General Visualization System. GVS is a Silicon Graphics IRIS program which was created for the purpose of supporting the scientific visualization needs of PMARC_12. GVS is available separately from COSMIC. PMARC_12 is written in standard FORTRAN 77, with the exception of the NAMELIST extension used for input. This makes the code fairly machine independent. A compiler which supports the NAMELIST extension is required. The amount of free disk space and RAM memory required for PMARC_12 will vary depending on how the code is dimensioned using the parameter statements in the include file. The recommended minimum requirements are 20Mb of free disk space and 4Mb of RAM. PMARC_12 has been successfully implemented on a Macintosh II running System 6.0.7 or 7.0 (using MPW/Language Systems Fortran 3.0), a Sun SLC running SunOS 4.1.1, an HP 720 running HP-UX 8.07, an SGI IRIS running IRIX 4.0 (it will not run under IRIX 3.x.x without modifications), an IBM RS/6000 running AIX, a DECstation 3100 running ULTRIX, and a CRAY-YMP running UNICOS 6.0 or later. Due to its memory requirements, this program does not readily lend itself to implementation on MS-DOS based machines. The standard distribution medium for PMARC_12 is a set of three 3.5 inch 800K Macintosh format diskettes and one 3.5 inch 1.44Mb Macintosh format diskette which contains an electronic copy of the documentation in MS Word 5.0 format for the Macintosh. Alternate distribution media and formats are available upon request, but these will not include the electronic version of the document. No executables are included on the distribution media. This program is an update to PMARC version 11, which was released in 1989. PMARC_12 was released in 1993. It is available only for use by United States citizens.

Description: Panel methods are moderate cost tools for solving a wide range of engineering problems. PMARC (Panel Method Ames Research Center) is a potential flow panel code that numerically predicts flow fields around complex three-dimensional geometries. PMARC's predecessor was a panel code named VSAERO which was developed for NASA by Analytical Methods, Inc. PMARC is a new program with many additional subroutines and a well-documented code suitable for powered-lift aerodynamic predictions. The program's open architecture facilitates modifications or additions of new features. Another improvement is the adjustable size code which allows for an optimum match between the computer hardware available to the user and the size of the problem being solved. PMARC can be resized (the maximum number of panels can be changed) in a matter of minutes. Several other state-of-the-art PMARC features include internal flow modeling for ducts and wind tunnel test sections, simple jet plume modeling essential for the analysis and design of powered-lift aircraft, and a time-stepping wake model which allows the study of both steady and unsteady motions. PMARC is a low-order panel method, which means the singularities are distributed with constant strength over each panel. In many cases low-order methods can provide nearly the same accuracy as higher order methods (where the singularities are allowed to vary linearly or quadratically over each panel). Low-order methods have the advantage of a shorter computation time and do not require exact matching between panels. The flow problem is solved by assuming that the body is at rest in a moving flow field. The body is modeled as a closed surface which divides space into two regions -- one region contains the flow field of interest and the other contains a fictitious flow. External flow problems, such as a wing in a uniform stream, have the external region as the flow field of interest and the internal flow as the fictitious flow. This arrangement is reversed for internal flow problems where the internal region contains the flow field of interest and the external flow field is fictitious. In either case it is assumed that the velocity potentials in both regions satisfy Laplace's equation. PMARC has extensive geometry modeling capabilities for handling complex, three-dimensional surfaces. As with all panel methods, the geometry must be modeled by a set of panels. For convenience, the geometry is usually subdivided into several pieces and modeled with sets of panels called patches. A patch may be folded over on itself so that opposing sides of the patch form a common line. For example, wings are normally modeled with a folded patch to form the trailing edge of the wing. PMARC also has the capability to automatically generate a closing tip patch. In the case of a wing, a tip patch could be generated to close off the wing's third side. PMARC has a simple jet model for simulating a jet plume in a crossflow. The jet plume shape, trajectory, and entrainment velocities are computed using the Adler/Baron jet in crossflow code. This information is then passed back to PMARC. The wake model in PMARC is a time-stepping wake model. The wake is convected downstream from the wake separation line by the local velocity flowfield. With each time step, a new row of wake panels is added to the wake at the wake separation line. PMARC also allows an initial wake to be specified if desired, or, as a third option, no wakes need be modeled. The effective presentation of results for aerodynamics problems requires the generation of report-quality graphics. PMAPP (ARC-12751), the Panel Method Aerodynamic Plotting Program, (Sterling Software), was written for scientists at NASA's Ames Research Center to plot the aerodynamic analysis results (flow data) from PMARC. PMAPP is an interactive, color-capable graphics program for the DEC VAX or MicroVAX running VMS. It was designed to work with a variety of terminal types and hardcopy devices. PMAPP is available separately from COSMIC. PMARC was written in standard FORTRAN77 using adjustable size arrays throughout the code. Redimensioning PMARC will change the amount of disk space and memory the code requires to be able to run; however, due to its memory requirements, this program does not readily lend itself to implementation on MS-DOS based machines. The program was implemented on an Apple Macintosh (using 2.5 MB of memory) and tested on a VAX/VMS computer. The program is available on a 3.5 inch Macintosh format diskette (standard media) or in VAX BACKUP format on TK50 tape cartridge or 9-track magnetic tape. PMARC was developed in 1989.

Description: An evaluation of the ability of a low order panel method to predict complex three-dimensional internal flow fields was made. The computer code VSAERO was used as a basis for the evaluation. Guidelines for modeling internal flow geometries were determined and the effects of varying the boundary conditions and the use of numerical approximations on the solutions accuracy were studied. Several test cases were run and the results were compared with theoretical or experimental results. Modeling an internal flow geometry as a closed box with normal velocities specified on an inlet and exit face provided accurate results and gave the user control over the boundary conditions. The values of the boundary conditions greatly influenced the amount of leakage an internal flow geometry suffered and could be adjusted to eliminate leakage. The use of the far-field approximation to reduce computation time influenced the accuracy of a solution and was coupled with the values of the boundary conditions needed to eliminate leakage. The error induced in the influence coefficients by using the far-field approximation was found to be dependent on the type of influence coefficient, the far-field radius, and the aspect ratio of the panels.