Large-Eddy Simulation of a Wing Tip Vortex on Overset Grids

A multiblock large-eddy simulation (LES) code with overset grid capability is reported on that has been developed primarily to study the tip vortex noise problem arising on rotating wind-turbine blades. The LES code can also be used to simulate the tip vortices around nonrotating wing geometries typically found in aeronautical applications. It employs state-of-the-art compact finite differencing, implicit spatial filtering, and nonreflecting boundary conditions on free boundaries, as well as characteristic-type boundary conditions on solid walls. High-order-accurate interpolation is used for the transfer of information among the individual component grids that make up the overset grid topology. The multiblock nature and the overset grid capability of the code allow high-order accurate numerical solutions in complex domains. Results for the tip vortex around a nonrotating wing with a rounded tip are presented to demonstrate the capability of the code. Comparisons of the numerical results with experimental data are also carried out.