multi-element airfoil grid generation

rcarrese · October 19, 2010, 09:20

Hi all,

I'm a Fluent/Gambit user - I'm planning some fairly large scale multi-element airfoil optimization studies. I have a baseline airfoil and then I will adjust the flap/slat rotation/translation to suit my objectives.

My problem - for now- is related to appropriate meshing techniques. Would anyone be able to offer some advice or perhaps even a tutorial on multi-element airfoil grid generation?

Thanks,
rcarrese

pavitran · October 19, 2010, 22:57

Hi,

Since your using Gambit, I guess getting a high quality multiblock structured mesh will not be easy.

I did some meshing on multi-element airfoils, I used GRIDPRO. I was able to generate high quality multiblock structured meshes. Moreover automation of meshing for multi-element airfoils at different flap & slat settings was easily achieved (Transformation of blocks was much easier in GRIDPRO).

rcarrese · October 20, 2010, 01:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by pavitran

Hi,

Since your using Gambit, I guess getting a high quality multiblock structured mesh will not be easy.

I did some meshing on multi-element airfoils, I used GRIDPRO. I was able to generate high quality multiblock structured meshes. Moreover automation of meshing for multi-element airfoils at different flap & slat settings was easily achieved (Transformation of blocks was much easier in GRIDPRO).

Hi, thank you for the reply. I guess I would be flexible in learning another pre-processing software. Is GRIDPRO freely available? If it isn't would you suggest any others which could be used? Would ICEM CFD be a more appropriate choice?

Thanks,
rcarrese

pavitran · October 20, 2010, 05:18

Hi,

GRIDPRO is not Free, you need to buy the licence. ICEM CFD can be used, but it will be really tedious and time consuming to work around blocks and also achieving high quality mesh will be bit difficult.

Creating block topology in GRIDPRO is damn easy, and also smoothing of mesh is highly robust(which is done internally by the algorithm). Especially it is very useful if you want to automate the meshing process for any given slat or flap position along with the main airfoil. Orthogonality is optimized throughout the entire grid volume.

rcarrese · October 20, 2010, 05:36

Thank you for all your advice. For now I have obtained a trial copy of the software. I assume if you were using it to adjust flap and slat positions, then it can be run in batch mode which would be perfect for my optimization studies.

Would you happen to have a tutorial or an example of the multi-element airfoil studies that you conducted?

Thanks heaps for your help,
Robert

pavitran · October 20, 2010, 07:32

Hi,

Once you have freezed your block topology manually, you can run gridpro in batch mode for various configurations of slat & flap angles. Your batch run can be called through a unix or windows(*.bat) script. In the script you can also transform your block topology suiting to your flap or slat position and angle (of course there will be some limitations, which you need to set them by doing a study).

Sorry, I dont have any tutorial, but I was involved in a study in my previous company, for doing automation of meshing for multi-element airfoils with GRIDPRO.

JBeilke · October 20, 2010, 15:03

Ask the support for the "3 element airfoil" demo case.

October 19, 2010, 09:20	multi-element airfoil grid generation	#1
rcarrese New Member Rob Carrese Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 5 Rep Power: 17	Hi all, I'm a Fluent/Gambit user - I'm planning some fairly large scale multi-element airfoil optimization studies. I have a baseline airfoil and then I will adjust the flap/slat rotation/translation to suit my objectives. My problem - for now- is related to appropriate meshing techniques. Would anyone be able to offer some advice or perhaps even a tutorial on multi-element airfoil grid generation? Thanks, rcarrese

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
On grid independent solution for pulsatile flow	David	FLUENT	5	March 25, 2022 04:33
2D airfoil simulation, turbulence, boundary layer, unstructured grid	louis.langouche@gmail.com	FLUENT	0	March 3, 2010 09:19
structured grid generation problem	Mehdi	Main CFD Forum	0	July 6, 2004 10:19
Combustion Convergence problems	Art Stretton	Phoenics	5	April 2, 2002 06:59
Latest news in mesh generation	Robert Schneiders	Main CFD Forum	0	March 2, 1999 05:07

October 19, 2010, 22:57	Hi	#2
pavitran Member Dynampally Pavitran Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: India Posts: 74 Rep Power: 16	Hi, Since your using Gambit, I guess getting a high quality multiblock structured mesh will not be easy. I did some meshing on multi-element airfoils, I used GRIDPRO. I was able to generate high quality multiblock structured meshes. Moreover automation of meshing for multi-element airfoils at different flap & slat settings was easily achieved (Transformation of blocks was much easier in GRIDPRO).

October 20, 2010, 05:18		#4
pavitran Member Dynampally Pavitran Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: India Posts: 74 Rep Power: 16	Hi, GRIDPRO is not Free, you need to buy the licence. ICEM CFD can be used, but it will be really tedious and time consuming to work around blocks and also achieving high quality mesh will be bit difficult. Creating block topology in GRIDPRO is damn easy, and also smoothing of mesh is highly robust(which is done internally by the algorithm). Especially it is very useful if you want to automate the meshing process for any given slat or flap position along with the main airfoil. Orthogonality is optimized throughout the entire grid volume.

October 20, 2010, 05:36		#5
rcarrese New Member Rob Carrese Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 5 Rep Power: 17	Thank you for all your advice. For now I have obtained a trial copy of the software. I assume if you were using it to adjust flap and slat positions, then it can be run in batch mode which would be perfect for my optimization studies. Would you happen to have a tutorial or an example of the multi-element airfoil studies that you conducted? Thanks heaps for your help, Robert

October 20, 2010, 07:32		#6
pavitran Member Dynampally Pavitran Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: India Posts: 74 Rep Power: 16	Hi, Once you have freezed your block topology manually, you can run gridpro in batch mode for various configurations of slat & flap angles. Your batch run can be called through a unix or windows(*.bat) script. In the script you can also transform your block topology suiting to your flap or slat position and angle (of course there will be some limitations, which you need to set them by doing a study). Sorry, I dont have any tutorial, but I was involved in a study in my previous company, for doing automation of meshing for multi-element airfoils with GRIDPRO.

October 20, 2010, 15:03		#7
JBeilke Senior Member Joern Beilke Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Dresden Posts: 539 Rep Power: 20	Ask the support for the "3 element airfoil" demo case.