Center for Computational Fluid Dynamics

Compressible Flows

Research Project Categories

F117 Aircraft:

In this simulation the compressible flow field about an F117 aircraft is computed. An unstructured mesh is used for the computation. The flow field can be visualized with pressure contours on the aircraft surface and ribbons to trace the velocity vector field, as shown below.

  • F117 Unconstructed Mesh
    Unstructured Mesh of the F117 aircraft
  • Compressible Flows F117
    Visualized flow field

World Trade Center:

The explosion of the World Trade Center in 1993 is simulated here, starting from a geometry or CAD definition. The pressure on the walls after 23 ms and after 287 ms are shown below .

  • CAD definition
    CAD Definition of the World Trade Center
  • World Trade Center at 23 ms
    Pressure on the walls after 23 ms in the World Trade Center
  • World Trade Center at 287 ms
    Pressure on the walls after 287 ms in the World Trade Center

747 Aircraft:

In this simulation we compute the flow field about a complete 747 aircraft. The geometry definition and the pressure on the surface of the aircraft can be found below.

  • Geometry definition of the 747 Aircraft
  • Surface Pressure simulated on the 747 Aircraft definition

Space Shuttle:

Compressible flow calculation over the entire space shuttle. The geometry definition, the pressure on the surface, and the surface pressure together with Mach number contours on a cutting plane can be seen below.

  • Geometry Definition
  • Pressure on the Space Shuttle
  • Pressure and Mach number Contours

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