Cartesian mesh solution for axisymmetric transonic potential flow around inlets

Abstract

A procedure has been developed for computing transonic solutions of the exact axisymmetric compressible potential flow equation for flow about inlets. A cartesian mesh is used in physical coordinates to eliminate restrictions on the geometries that can be treated. The method is shown to be fast and stable; and agreement between analysis and data is excellent. The solution procedure is valid for any geometry or any number of surfaces. The method was developed as a first step toward a general three-dimensional analysis and all parts of the procedure apply directly to three-dimensional flow computation with a minimum of further development.