First Stages of a Viscous Finite Element Solver for Non-Inertial and Aeroelastic Problems

Abstract

This thesis concentrates on expansion of the Euler equations to full Navier-Stokes equations for laminar cases. The study develops the needed terms to adapt the equations, implements the equations in Fortran code, and then finishes by verifying and validating the code. Several viscous test cases were used varying across the subsonic, transonic, and supersonic regimes. Test cases include Blasius solution, circular cylinder, and several airfoil solutions. After verification and validation, the solver was found to work well for test cases in the subsonic, transonic, and supersonic laminar solutions; but the solver does not possess a turbulence model, and therefore cannot properly predict separation or properties in a transitional or turbulent boundary layer.