Navier-Stokes computations of prolate spheroids at angle of attack

Abstract

Three-dimensional viscous flow calculations are made for a 6:1 prolate spheroid at conditions for which detailed experimental data are available. The computations are made with two finite-volume algorithms for the compressible Navier-Stokes equations, one using central differencing for the convective and pressure terms and the other using an upwind-biased flux-difference-splitting approach. The effects of grid density and artificial dissipation on the accuracy of the numerical results are included. Generally good agreement of the computations with the experimental results is obtained over a range of Reynolds numbers and angles-of-attack, up to 30 deg, although the results at lower Reynolds numbers are sensitive to the assumed transition location.