Validation of numerical methods for flow patterns modeling based on comparison with the results of laboratory experiments using visualization methods

Abstract

A series of laboratory and numerical experiments were carried out to study the structure of the turbulent flow over a rectangular obstacle for high Reynolds number. The results of numerical simulation performed within ANSYS CFX were verified on data obtained in the wind tunnel of IAP RAS by visualization methods including Particle Image Velocimetry. It was found that the airflow over the obstacle can be conditionally divided into main several regions: the region of the initiation of the detachment and formation shielding zone, the region of the maximum vertical separation and vortex development and the region of flow reattachment. Comparison of numerical calculations with the results of experiments showed that the physical processes of the airflow around model objects can be optimally modeled in a three-dimensional setting using the Detached Eddy turbulence model (DES) with central numerical differentiation scheme and allowed to select optimal parameters of calculation grid.