Evaluation of Hybrid RANS/LES Methods for Computing Flow over a Prolate Spheroid

Abstract

The objective of the current study is towards comparative assessment of the performance of hybrid RANS/LES turbulence models in predicting flow over a 6:1 prolate spheroid. Two hybrid RANS/LES turbulence models formulated in seamless framework are assessed for their predictive capabilities in performing aerodynamic analysis of the prolate spheroid geometry at relatively low angles of attack. The turbulence models of interest in this study are the Partially-Averaged Navier Stokes (PANS) of Girimaji and Scale-Adaptive Simulations (SAS) method of Menter. PANS and SAS model computations of flow over the prolate spheroid geometry are performed at incidence angles of 10° and 20° to match the experimental flow conditions of Kreplin, and Chesnakas and Simpson, respectively. Distribution of the surface quantities at various sections are reported. The agreement between the computations and the experimental data improve for the higher incidence angle.