Numerical simulation of viscous transonic flows over an airfoil

Abstract

High Reynolds number viscous transonic flow is described based on an interaction of the potential outer flow with the boundary layer and wake. Following the procedure of Lighthill (1958), the solutions in these domains are matched to each other through boundary conditions. The solution to the complete problem is obtained iteratively through successive computations of the flows in the outer and inner domains. Both old and new algorithms are used for the iteration process and subsequent problem solution. Results are given for all the airfoils from the Experimental Data Base for Computer Program Assessment (AGARD-AR-138, 1979). A comparison of these results with experimental data shows the degree of agreement between these unbounded airfoil flow simulations and real transonic flow over the central part of a straight wing.