Evaluation of OpenFOAM performance for RANS simulations of flow around a NACA 4412 airfoil

42 Pages·2017·3.2 MB·Swedish

DEGREE PROJECT IN TECHNOLOGY,
FIRST CYCLE, 15 CREDITS
STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN 2018
Evaluation of OpenFOAM
performance for RANS simulations
of flow around a NACA 4412 airfoil
HAMPUS TOBER
ERIK HÄNNINGER
KTH ROYAL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING SCIENCES

EXAMENSARBETE INOM TEKNIK,
GRUNDNIVÅ, 15 HP
STOCKHOLM, SVERIGE 2018
Utvärdering av OpenFOAM
prestanda för RANS simuleringar
av flöde runt en NACA 4412
vingprofil
HAMPUS TOBER
ERIK HÄNNINGER
KTH
SKOLAN FÖR TEKNIKVETENSKAP

Abstract
The purpose of this study is to evaluate how well the RANS models implemented in the
open-source software OpenFOAM performs when simulating flow around a NACA 4412 airfoil
with a turbulent boundary layer. After assessing the different models and performing several
tests, the Spalart-Allmaras model was chosen to be the best candidate for this airfoil.
The model was validated against several different references, including a flying-hot-wire study by
Coles and Wadcock [5] for a chord based Reynolds number of 1.500.000, and a Direct Numerical
Simulation (DNS) performed by Vinuesa et al. [18] at the Mechanics department at KTH for a
Reynolds number of 400.000.

Sammanfattning
Syftet med denna studie var att utvärdera prestandan hos de redan implementerade
RANS-modellerna i programvaran OpenFOAM, vars källkod är öppen, i simuleringar av
turbulent flöde runt ett NACA 4412 vingprofil. Efter en studie med en rad tester av de olika
modellerna, valdes Spalart-Allmaras modellen som den bästa modellen för denna vingprofil.
Denna modell kontrollerades mot en rad olika referenser, bland annat en så kallad flying-hot-wire
studie av Coles och Wadcock [5] för ett kordbaserat Reynoldstal av 1.500.000. Validering gjordes
även för ett Reynoldstal 400.000 mot en Direct Numerical Simulation (DNS) utförd av Vinuesa et
al. [18] på institutionen för Mekanik vid KTH.

Acknowledgements
We would like to express great appreciation to Marco Atzori and Alvaro Tanarro for their patient
guidance and many hours spent supervising. We would also like to thank Ricardo Vinuesa and
Philipp Schlatter for all the good feedback and comments throughout the project.