Session P2 - Computational Fluid Dynamics.
FOCUS session, Wednesday afternoon, June 27
Building 4, Room 237,
There have been significant advancements made in the lattice Boltzmann based software PowerFLOW during last couple of years for computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Recently, the newest version, PowerFLOW 3.2, was used to simulate two NACA airfoil benchmark cases. NACA 0012 amp; 4412 foils were simulated with PowerFLOW 3.2 at various angles of attack. The results are compared with available experimental data as well as other numerical results. The simulations were done to determine how accurately PowerFLOW predicts lift and drag, but more important, if it could determine the proper stall angle for a given shape. It is shown that PowerFLOW predicts lift rather well, up to and in some instances, past the angle of stall. The comparison of drag to experimental values does not correlate as favorably, however there are on going investigations into the cause for this. It is also shown that the algorithm/software is capable of giving an excellent prediction of stall at high Reynolds numbers for these airfoils. These simulations are continuing with emphasis on improving drag and lift prediction by a number means, including more sophisticated boundary layer schemes, extended turbulence models, and improved LB algorithms (such as floating point vector states.)