Numerical Simulation of Unsteady Fluid Parameters for Maglev Flight Wind Tunnel Design

Abstract

The maglev flight tunnel is a novel conceptual aerodynamics test facility, in which the complicated aerodynamic characteristics caused by the high-speed translation of a moving model in a long, straight, closed tunnel, and wave propagation and aero-structure single-way coupling problems can be investigated. The unsteady characteristics originating from a high-speed model in the maglev flight tunnel were investigated and evaluated with regard to aero–structure coupling. The new conservation element and solution element method was used to solve the 3-D compressible fluid surrounding a moving model in a tunnel, and the variations in the aerodynamic parameters, wave propagation characteristics, and pressure distribution in the tunnel were obtained. The results provide support for key technical problems, such as a wave-absorbing construction design of the maglev flight wind tunnel.

Keywords

• maglev flight tunnel
• fluid structure interaction
• unsteady aerodynamics
• conservation element and solution element method
• numerical simulation