Coupled multi-scale simulation of high Reynolds number airfoil flows

Started: 14th September 2015
Ended: 14th September 2019
Research Team: David Lusher
Investigators: Neil Sandham, Nicola De Tullio

Turbulent flows are ubiquitous in nature yet the practical models lack a firm theoretical basis. The field is currently being revolutionised by the application of large scale direct numerical simulations (DNS) in which no assumptions are made beyond those of a Newtonian fluid with Fourier heat conduction. However, such simulations are expensive and the high Reynolds number flows found in practice (such as in the atmosphere or on the wings of large aircraft) will remain beyond the capability of even the largest supercomputers for many decades to come.

In this project, we will focus on a new class of algorithms based on a coupled multi-scale approach involving nested DNS. The methods are, in principle, capable of extension to high Reynolds numbers and parallelise very efficiently. We will test the methods on boundary-layer flows to demonstrate the capability and then take on the challenge of simulating high Reynolds number flow over an airfoil.

Computational Modelling Group

Coupled multi-scale simulation of high Reynolds number airfoil flows

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