Numerical Simulation of the Streamwise Transport of a Delta Wing Leading-Edge Vortex

Abstract

Longitudinal vortices are a common flow phenomenon in the flow around aircraft. They emerge wherever sharp edges are encountered and affect the stability of the boundary layers with which they interact. Hence, for an optimal aircraft design, it is necessary to accurately predict not only the formation of these vortices, but also their downstream evolution. This paper presents a numerical simulation approach for the formation and downstream transport of longitudinal vortices. The approach consists in a hybrid Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes/large eddy simulation (RANS/LES) method with synthetic turbulence forcing for which different RANS/LES interface locations are investigated. To provide a quantitative analysis, an isolated sharp-edged delta wing configuration is adopted that allows to get rid of unwanted uncertainties. The presented RANS/LES approach is validated against particle image velocimetry data and compared with a wall-modeled LES and to a differential Reynolds stress model simulation. The results show that the RANS simulation is able to accurately predict the formation of the bulk vortical structure. However, its downstream transport can be accurately predicted only by a scale-resolving simulation. The hybrid RANS/LES approach allows to achieve this while saving computational resources by modeling the roll-up of the vortex. Nevertheless, its predictive accuracy highly depends on the appropriate placement of the RANS/LES interface.