Turbulence Model Effects on Vortex Interaction Prediction on a Multiswept Delta Wing

Abstract

In this study, vortical flows around a generic triple-delta wing geometry were investigated at transonic speeds. The focus of this work was the investigation of vortex interaction at medium to high angles of attack. To this end, numerical simulations were performed at two different Mach numbers, M = 0.5 and M = 0.85. To assess the performance of different turbulence models in predicting the complex flowfield, comparisons with experimental data were performed. In addition to the integral forces and moments, surface pressures from pressure-sensitive paint and velocity field data from particle image velocimetry were used. Across all investigated test cases, the best agreement with experimental results was achieved by the Menter shear stress transport turbulence model.