AW Online Feature
By Nagabushan TN,Aerospace Practice Manager, Detroit Engineered Product(DEP)
Globally OEMs are increasingly employing virtual technology for validating performance, which is now common for structural performances, as well as aerodynamics. Virtual Wind Tunnel is a solution to perform wind tunnel simulations of Aircraft structure in an efficient manner, wherein transient and steady state studies can be performed with speed and accuracy.
Implementing virtual validation methods have become more common for design exploration and trade off studies across industry sectors including aerospace, automotive, heavy industries, etc. Faster HPC platforms have given engineers a chance to simulate and optimize designs faster than ever before. The story is no different for aerodynamics studies. Robustness, flexibility and automation are key aspects for grid generation to modeling complex flow physics. Engineers can now analyze the flow not just over fuselage and wings, but also around the nacelles and air intakes. The virtual validation for aerodynamics is extending beyond commercial air carriers to cargo aircrafts and surveillance drones.
Fifth Generation Technology
Aerodynamics and virtual validation are also important for fighter aircrafts as the trend towards fifth generation technology is picking pace. Stealth features, surfaces for reducing Frontal Radar Cross Section (RCS) requirement, design of complex air intakes for the fifth generation, would be some of the areas where virtual validation for aerodynamics would provide great insight to designers. The ability to study the effect of separation between the fuselage and engine air intake zone is readily possible using virtual validation. Additionally, with parametric CFD models we can even study its impact on performance.
The next generation fighters are increasing their role play, so quick maneuvers are as important as high speed maneuvers. This opens up additional areas where designers can leverage the virtual validation for aerodynamics, to realize the merits of subtle changes to the wing design after finalizing the configuration.
In fighter aircrafts,often there are upgrades for naval application from the generic air force version. Changes to the naval version might require heavier underbelly, changes to the front cone area, etchas to align with the requirements. In these cases, virtual validation for aerodynamics does help the designers to check and gain insight for their designs before they commit the design for release. Many a times it is even harder to build test facilities to examine the demonstrators, but simulations are the best way to represent the scenario and gain insight into the performance. The power of virtual validation for aerodynamics during these conditions is really useful.
Future Objectives
As we piece together the future we see convergence towards zero emission flights, alternate propulsion options including hybridization as major objectives. On the commercial aircraft side, we see the role for virtual validation in aerodynamics grow significantly as engineers try to configure efficient wings with wingtips, smoother nacelle front ends and airframe noise reducers as more efficient structural options.
On the defense application front, as the push is more towards multi role, Fifth generation and studies that aim beyond different propulsion options not excluding the scramjets, we can easily assess the usefulness of virtual validation. Also, deciding on the balance of stealth characteristics focused on front-aspect Radar Cross Section (RCS) and aerodynamics, designing the bay for the weaponry are all challenges that rightly lands into the virtual validation arena. Pitching it the advantage designers have to gain insight. The real proof is out once the rubber meets the runway and the machine takes to the sky. Virtual validation for aerodynamics with powerful algorithms running on large hardware to simulate complex flows is a true companion for designers to validate, check and gain insight into what is going on before there is any prototype to take the runway to let loose the test pilot to check out the next generation flying machine.
(Aviation World Online Feature)
