Prediction of Influence Boundaries in Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)

Greater effectiveness and lower cost for tools for the USAF to defeat threats ranging from terrorism to rogue nation unpredictability require smart application of available technology. Recent advances made available by UAVs are invaluable, aircraft of all types play an important role in the master plan of a secure US position. The brute-force power of computers can be a valuable asset, but the nonlinearity and range of important scales requires intelligent approximations be chosen for each application. In supersonic and hypersonic applications the theory of the method of characteristics provides an obvious path to estimating influences of geometry, compressibility, and viscosity; however, transonic and low speed applications require a new breakthrough. We propose to use analytical advances that will provide the needed preliminary insights in estimating these same influences. This approach, combined with the method of characteristics, will create a powerful new generation of tools which complement traditional CFD applications and significantly improve their efficiency for both application and design. Moreover, these tools can be used on their own in preliminary design as a means of quickly, but with reasonable accuracy, computing important flow characteristics.