SIMULATION OF TRANSONIC FLOW OVER TWIN-JET TRANSPORT AIRCRAFT

The capability of the grid generation/Euler solver combination to simulate transonic flows over twin-jet transport aircraft is demonstrated. The numerical simulation is based on MELINA, an explicit, multiblock, structured-mesh, Runge-Kutta scheme, and the interactive, algebraic grid generation system INGRID. The problems of complex transport aircraft geometry (body/wing/flap-track-fairings/pylon and engine) and of jet or nacelle flow are tackled, yielding an efficient, robust, and accurate flow simulation system. The prediction of engine installation effects are validated with wind-tunnel experiments for two different transport aircraft configurations with under-wing, pylon-mounted turbo fan engines. From the validation it can be concluded that the numerical simulation has approached a level of accuracy and efficiency where it can be used to investigate and optimize under-wing, pylon-mounted engine installations already at an early project state and reduce development risk and costs.