Comparison between potential and Euler solutions for inviscid transonic flows.

Abstract

A pseudo-unsteady system of equations for two-dimensional steady compressible potential flows has been solved by using the rational Runge-Kutta time-stepping procedure combined with the usual central finite difference approximations. Computed results for transonic flows past the NACA 0012 and RAE 2822 airfoils, and subcritical flow around a circular cylinder are compared with the Euler solutions. The potential solution is in close agreement with the Euler one for the case with weak shock waves. For stranger shock waves, significant discrepancy is recognized in the computed flow field due to the entropy production in the Euler solutions.