Coupled Vertical/Short Takeoff and Landing (VSTOL) Down Wash-Ground Effect and Ship Air Wake Turbulent Flow Simulation Model

The proposed effort entails the development of a CFD simulation framework for the modeling of coupled airwake-V/STOL flow fields. A novel strategy that combines a compressible and an incompressible flow solver is proposed, in which, the different regionsof the flow are computed using algorithms that are optimal for the respective regimes. Each flow solver will be validated in detail for the simulation of the respective regimes by comparisons with measurements at laboratory scale as well as full scale. Anunsteady turbulence model for the simulation of V/STOL flow fields is also proposed in which modern enhancements to Reynolds Averaged Navier Stokes (RANS) turbulence modeling will be incorporated into the solvers. Large Eddy Simulations (LES) of laboratoryscale flow fields will be used to develop and calibrate the unsteady model for the flow fields of interest. Finally, development of a strategy to interface the two solvers using a novel dynamical modeling technique that will reduce the computationalexpense is also proposed. Upon completion, this simulation framework will aid in the development of flight simulator models used in the integration of new aircraft units with air capable naval platforms. The simulation framework is based on CRAFT Tech'sunstructured CRUNCH CFD code. The proposed Phase II program will lead to the development and demonstration of a Dynamic Interface (DI) Toolkit, with a coupled Compressible-Incompressible modeling methodology for simulating high-speed V/STOL exhaustsembedded in low-speed airwakes. This toolkit is of critical value in the integration of the JSF into the Naval fleet. The DI Toolkit is of a fundamental nature and has broad-based applicability to a range of emerging applications, e.g. active controllerdevelopment, shear flow control, noise attenuation, high angle-of-attack aerodynamic modeling etc.