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| Institute of Aerodynamics |
Chair of Fluid Mechanics and Institute of Aerodynamics Aachen |
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Research
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Computational Fluid Dynamics
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To simulate numerically internal and external flows the
conservation equations of mass, momentum, and energy are
solved using up-to-date algorithms implemented on high
performance computers. The development of such algorithms
has been the subject of various research projects at the
Institute of Aerodynamics. Currently, a numerical library
containing various discretization schemes, turbulence models,
and solution algorithms is available. It is applied to
engineering problems such as the flow field within a 4-valve
piston engine and to fundamental flow phenomena such as
turbulence, vortex breakdown or shear layers. Besides
solutions of the Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS)
equations for engineering tasks large-eddy simulation (LES)
techniques are used for a scientific analysis of turbulent flows,
since LES methods possess the capability to provide accurate
small-scale results where RANS methods fail to deliver
meaningful findings.
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LES of the turbulent flow around a sharp trailing edge
to predict noise radiation.
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Ring-like vortices within the cylinder of a
4-valve piston engine.
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The coupling of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) solutions
with computational aeroacoustics (CAA) to predict the
aeroacoustic field is another important field of the Institute of
Aerodynamics. This approach has been successfully applied,
e.g., for the prediction of trailing-edge noise.
Increasing capabilities of the numerical methods allow to
predict intricate details of the flow field, such as the interaction
of engine jets with trailing edge vortices for the flow around
airplane wings. The data has such a quality that it can be
used in the design process of high-lift devices.
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Jet-vortex interaction in the wake of an airplane wing.
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Interaction of a wake behind a moving circular
cylinder and a turbine blade.
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It goes without saying that CFD tools deliver force coefficients,
moment coefficients, and heat loads for flows over completely
different configurations, viz, cars, trains, buildings, etc.
Moreover, CFD plays a valuable role in numerous
applications, since it provides complete information within the
computational domain. Numerical methods, however, have to
be validated, especially when complex or unusual phenomena
are to be investigated. The policy of the Institute of
Aerodynamics is to accompany numerical simulations with
experimental investigations whenever possible, such that a
mutual validation is possible and the highest degree of
confidence is achieved in the numerical methods.
The CFD tools are not only used in fundamental research, but
also in the design process of technical devices in cooperation
with various companies. To simulate flow problems for
complex geometries commercial grid generation codes are
available. Standard pre- and postprocessing software for a
detailed analysis and presentation of the results is used.
Applications include the investigation of, e.g., flows in cooling
loop elements in space stations, the design of nozzles and jet
apparatus in textile producing machines, optimization of
winglet geometries, and flows through chip cooler elements.
Last Update: 17:40:03 - 12.06.2009
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