Grid-size reduction in flow calculations on infinite domains by higher-order far-field asymptotics in numerical boundary conditions

Grid-size reduction in flow calculations on infinite domains by higher-order far-field asymptotics in numerical boundary conditions

Wubs, F.W.
Boerstoel, J.W.
van der Wees, A.J.

National Aerospace Laboratory NLR

1983-05-16

An error analysis is presented of the numerical calculation of the steady flow on an infinite domain around a given airfoil by a domainsplitting (= zonal) method. This method combines a fully conservative finite-difference approximation on a finite domain around the airfoil with an approximate asymptotic solution outside this finite domain. The errors are analyzed as a function of the accuracy of the approximate asymptotic expansion, of the distance to the airfoil of the far-field boundary of the finite domain and of the mesh size. The numerical experiments show that, for a given desired accuracy level, large reductions in grid sizes are possible, if the usual far-field asymptotic approximation (uniform flow plus first-order perturbation by a circulation vortex at infinity) is augmented by only a few extra terms in the approximate asymptotic far-field solution. In this way, considerable numerical efficiency improvements can be realized. It is expected that this conclusion can be generalized to many other applications where computations on infinite domains are performed.

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:8ef58cde-29ac-4fe6-8b51-19a98ace8e83

Nationaal Lucht- en Ruimtevaartlaboratorium

Campus only

NLR MP 83029 U

Aerospace Engineering Reports

report

(c) 1983 National Aerospace Laboratory NLR