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Assignment 3

The document compares the pressure coefficient (Cp) distribution and lift (Cl) and drag (Cd) values for inviscid and turbulent airfoil flow calculations at an angle of attack of 5 degrees. There is a small difference observed in the Cp distribution, with lower pressure observed on the upper surface for inviscid flow initially due to higher local velocity before flow separation. Both distributions converge downstream as the inviscid flow transitions to turbulent flow. The lift coefficients are similar but the drag coefficient differs significantly between the calculations. The Cd is approximately 10 times larger for the turbulent calculation compared to the inviscid one due to the viscous forces ignored in the inviscid calculation being important for the low Reynolds

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rohen87
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33 views

Assignment 3

The document compares the pressure coefficient (Cp) distribution and lift (Cl) and drag (Cd) values for inviscid and turbulent airfoil flow calculations at an angle of attack of 5 degrees. There is a small difference observed in the Cp distribution, with lower pressure observed on the upper surface for inviscid flow initially due to higher local velocity before flow separation. Both distributions converge downstream as the inviscid flow transitions to turbulent flow. The lift coefficients are similar but the drag coefficient differs significantly between the calculations. The Cd is approximately 10 times larger for the turbulent calculation compared to the inviscid one due to the viscous forces ignored in the inviscid calculation being important for the low Reynolds

Uploaded by

rohen87
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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(a) Graph the pressure coefficient (Cp) distribution along the airfoil surface for this calculation

and the inviscid calculation done in the previous problem at = 5. Comment on any differences
you observe.

From the above graphs, it can be seen that the only difference observed is lower
pressure coefficient for inviscid flow when free stream air first comes into contact
with the upper surface of the airfoil as compared to that of a turbulent flow. As,
pressure coefficient is defined by the formula,

c p=

p p
U2
=1 2
1
U
U2
2

It can be explained that the local velocity, U , experienced by the upper surface of
the airfoil for a inviscid flow is higher than compared to that of a turbulent flow
since flow separation starts taking place. We can see that as air particles flows from
the leading edge to the trailing edge of the airfoil, the pressure coefficient for both
inviscid flow and turbulent flow converges as inviscid flow will ultimately transit to
turbulent flow as given by the Reynolds number

UD

When Reynoldss number exceeds 500, 000.

(b) Compare the Cl and Cd values obtained with the corresponding values from the inviscid
calculation. Discuss briefly the similarities and differences between the two results.
Inviscid flow
Lift
Force vector: (-0.087200001 0.99620003 0)
Pressure
Force (N)
1542.2911

Viscous
Force (N)
0

Total Force
(N)
1542.2911

Pressure
Coefficient
1.0071991

Viscous
Coefficient
0

Total
Coefficient
1.0071991

Pressure
Coefficient
0.00224288
77

Viscous
Coefficient
0

Total
Coefficient
0.00224288
77

Pressure
Coefficient
0.88299907

Viscous
Coefficient
7.8621935e
-05

Total
Coefficient
0.88307769

Pressure
Coefficient
0.00898143
65

Viscous
Coefficient
0.00847431
18

Total
Coefficient
0.01745574
8

Drag
Force vector: (0.99620003 0.087200001 0)
Pressure
Force (N)
3.4344609

Viscous
Force (N)
0

Total Force
(N)
3.4344609

Turbulent flow
Lift
Force vector: (-0.087200001 0.99620003 0)
Pressure
Force (N)
1352.1077

Viscous
Force (N)
0.12039121

Total Force
(N)
1352.2281

Drag
Force vector: (0.99620003 0.087200001 0)
Pressure
Force (N)
13.752981

Viscous
Force (N)
12.976437

Total Force
(N)
26.729418

There are differences between the lift and drag coefficients of the inviscid flow and
turbulent flow due to the difference in the nature of the calculations. In the
calculation for the inviscid flow, the viscous forces are ignored. This assumption is
valid for higher Reynolds number, since the inertial forces are much more significant
as compared to the viscous forces. However, in this case, the viscous forces play a
more important role due to the non-slip condition at the boundary, as seen from the
large difference between the drag coefficients. The drag coefficient of the turbulent
flow is approximately 10 times larger than that of the inviscid flow.

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