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Implementation of a Body Force Model in OVERFLOW for Propulsor SimulationsWe present an implementation of a propulsor model based on body force method into the OVERFLOW computational fluid dynamics code to model turbofan engines and propulsors of similar type. The model estimates the forces imparted on the fluid by the blade camber surfaces as a body force source terms in the momentum and energy equations over grids that represent the rotor and stator of a fan stage. We tested the implementation on three cases: 1) Source Diagnostics Test (SDT) fan with R4 rotors, which has extensive test data on aerodynamic performance and rotor wake surveys, 2) A stand-alone Aeronaut TF8000 propulsor which is an off-the-shelf propulsor used on model aircraft and 3) The D8 aircraft model with TF8000 propulsors placed in a wind tunnel. Despite missing some of the features in the velocity profiles near the endwalls (i.e. hub and casing surfaces), the OVERFLOW simulations with body force model predicted area-averaged flow speed and total pressure rise through the SDT propulsor within a few percent of the LDV (Laser Doppler Velocimetry) measurements. In the case of TF8000 propulsor on the D8 airframe, the model under-predicted mechanical power coefficient by several percent of the wind tunnel test results when the horizontal force balance condition over the airframe is targeted by tuning rotor speed. By investigating the upstream influence of the rotor swirl, it was found out that the induced swirl velocity effects upstream were relatively small and they rapidly vanished before reaching one fan diameter upstream of the fan face. The body force model provided insights on aerothermodynamics and aeromechanics of boundary layer ingesting propulsor; these insights could not be obtained by using the uniform pressure jump model.
Document ID
20190018056
Acquisition Source
Ames Research Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Akaydin, H. Dogus (Science and Technology Corp. Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Pandya, Shishir A. (NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
May 10, 2019
Publication Date
June 5, 2017
Subject Category
Aircraft Propulsion And Power
Report/Patent Number
AIAA-2017-3572
ARC-E-DAA-TN43237
Meeting Information
Meeting: AIAA Aviation Forum 2017
Location: Denver, CO
Country: United States
Start Date: June 5, 2017
End Date: June 9, 2017
Sponsors: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNA16BD60C
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
Technical Review
NASA Peer Committee
Keywords
Propulsor
OVERFLOW
Body Force

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