Validation of Aerodynamic and Optical Computations for the Unsteady Flow Field About a Hemisphere-on-Cylinder Turret

Abstract

An evaluation of the aerodynamic and aero-optic predictive capability based on the Boeing Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) program BCFD is presented. The Boeing Enterprise Aero-optic Modeling (BEAM) process is presented which combines state-of-the-art CFD simulations with a procedure that computes the optical path integrations and the associated Optical Path Distortions (OPD) which characterize the magnitude of the wavefront deviation due to the aerodynamic disturbances over the device. This capability will also allow Active Flow Control (AFC) devices to be evaluated in terms of both aerodynamic and aerooptic (AO) benefits. This type of simulation capability is a large step toward providing a method to screen potential wind tunnel models and to provide a cost effective alternative to the high cost of wind tunnel model design, manufacturing, instrumentation, and testing all together.