ORCID Identifier(s)

0000-0002-5999-3217

Graduation Semester and Year

2018

Language

English

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering

Department

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

First Advisor

Frank Lu

Abstract

The present study observes the interaction between two fundamental phenomena in fluid mechanics: the transonic shock wave and the wingtip vortex. While these are two areas of fluid mechanics in which extensive experimental and numerical research has been conducted, there is little information on the interaction between the two. The present study numerically simulates a wing with a NACA-0012 section at Mach 0.758 and observes the interaction between the transonic shock wave and wingtip vortex for various angles of attack. The focus of the study is on the surface flow topology and the flow exterior to the boundary layer. Results show interesting surface flow topology for cases in which shock-induced separation occurs. Lines of separation and reattachment converge smoothly near the wingtip with no evidence of singular point, identifying a region of open separation. Results on the outer flow show there is a distinct interaction between the wingtip vortex and the transonic shock wave. The relationship is directly related to the regions of supersonic and subsonic flow. It is shown that, in general the wingtip vortex only affects regions of subsonic flow.

Keywords

CFD, Transonic, Wing tip, Vortex, Shock waves

Disciplines

Aerospace Engineering | Engineering | Mechanical Engineering

Comments

Degree granted by The University of Texas at Arlington

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