A comparative study of vortex identification methods on the Wall Mounted Hump simulations using SU2

Abstract

In the last two decades, the researches on the impact of ice accumulation on the aerodynamics of flight has been prevalent. The complex geometry of an iced aircraft wing poses difficulties for engineers in predicting when an airplane may stall due to aerodynamic degradation. Ice accretion on an aircraft wing can alter the flow field, leading to the formation of more vortices. The formation of vortices due to flow separation can lead to an early onset of stall, a critical safety issue in aircraft operations. Thus, understanding flow structures like vortices is crucial. One test case that received considerable attention and was high-referenced is the Wall Mounted Hump (WMH). This test case can be interpreted as the flow over an iced airfoil, where the flow separates from the wall upon crossing the hump, symbolizing the ice, and forms vortex structures. As secondary objectives of this research we will carry out steady and unsteady simulations on the WMH and quantify the number of vortices in critical sections following the hump for further analysis. The main objective is to use three vortex identification methodologies to identify potential vortex locations after the hump. A comprehensive comparison between the Q-criterion, ▯2 criterion, and Swirling Strength methods is undertaken to assess their effectiveness in characterizing the number of vortices in different sections downstream of the hump. Literature review is conducted on the WMH, the SU2 solver, and vortex identification techniques. The influence of grid resolution and spanwise length on aerodynamic coefficients through steady and unsteady simulations are examined. This research enhances our understanding of the effects of grid resolution on aerodynamic coefficients and the suitability of different vortex identification techniques for analyzing complex flow scenarios in aeronautical applications. Understanding these complex flow phenomena can lead to improved design practices in aeronautical engineering, enhancing aerodynamic performance and fuel efficiency of aircrafts, and other aerospace vehicles. Furthermore, simulations can be improved to prevent hazards associated with the nature of vortex structures.

Date	14 Aug 2023
Original language	American English
Awarding Institution	École de technologie supérieure
Supervisor	François Morency (Supervisor) & Marlène Sanjosé (Co-supervisor)