An explicit power-law-based wall model for lattice Boltzmann method–Reynolds-averaged numerical simulations of the flow around airfoils

Abstract

In this paper, an explicit wall model based on a power-law velocity profile is proposed for the simulation of the incompressible flow around airfoils at high Reynolds numbers. This wall model is particularly suited for the wall treatment involved in Cartesian grids. Moreover, it does not require an iterative procedure for the friction velocity determination. The validation of this power-law wall model is assessed for Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes simulations of the flow around a two-dimensional airfoil using the lattice Boltzmann approach along with the Spalart-Allmaras turbulence model. Good results are obtained for the prediction of the aerodynamic coefficients and the pressure profiles at two Reynolds numbers and several angles of attack. The explicit power-law is thus well suited for a simplified near-wall treatment at high Reynolds numbers using Cartesian grids.