Tutorial 3

Airfoil

Problem Specification

In this tutorial, we will show you how to simulate a NACA 0012 Airfoil at a 6 degree angle of attack placed
in a wind tunnel. Using FLUENT, we will create a simulation of this experiment. Afterwards, we will
compare values from the simulation and data collected from experiment.

Pre-Analysis & Start-Up

Boundary Conditions

One of the simple things we can think about before we set up the simulation is begin planning the
boundary conditions of the set up. One of the popular meshes for simulating a airfoil in a stream is a C-
Mesh, and that is what we will be using. At the inlet of the system, we will define the velocity as entering
at a 6 degree angle of attack (as per the problem statement), and at a total magnitude of 1. We will also
define the gauge pressure at the inlet to be 0. As for the outlet, the only thing we can assume is that the
gauge pressure is 0. As for the airfoil itself, we will treat it like a wall. Together, these boundary conditions
form the picture below:

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Open ANSYS Workbench

Now that we have the pre-calculations, we are ready to do a simulation in ANSYS Workbench! Open
ANSYS Workbench by going to Start > ANSYS > Workbench. This will open the start up screen seen as
seen below

To begin, we need to tell ANSYS what kind of simulation we are doing. If you look to the left of the start
up window, you will see the Toolbox Window. Take a look through the different selections. We will be
using FLUENT to complete the simulation. Load the Fluid Flow (FLUENT)box by dragging and
dropping it into the Project Schematic.

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Once you have loaded FLUENT into the project schematic, you are ready to create the geometry for the
simulation.

Geometry

The Airfoil Coordinates

In this step, we will import the coordinates of the airfoil and create the geometry we will use for the
simulation. The file naca0012coords contains the points of a NACA 0012 airfoil.

Launch Design Modeler

Before we launch the design modeler, we need to specify the problem as a 2D problem. Right
click and selectProperties. In the Properties of Schematic A2:
Geometry Window, select Analysis Type > 2D . Now, double click to
launch the Design Modeler. When prompted, select Meters as the unit of measurement.

Airfoil

First, we will create the geometry of the airfoil. In the menu bar, go to Concept > 3D Curve. In
the Details View window, click Coordinates File and select the ellipsis to browse to a file.
Browse to and select the geometry file you downloaded earlier. Once you have selected the desired
geometry file, click to create the curve. Click to get a better look at the curve.

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Next, we need to create a surface from the curve we just generated. Go to Concepts > Surfaces from
Edges. Click anywhere on the curve you just created, and select Edges > Apply in the Details
View Window. Click to create the surface.

Create C-Mesh Domain

Now that the airfoil has been generated, we need to create the meshable surface we will use once we
begin to specify boundary conditions. We will begin by creating a coordinate system at the tail of the
airfoil - this will help us create the geometry for the C-mesh domain. Click to create a new
coordinate system. In the Details View window, select Type > From Coordinates. For FD11,
Point X, enter 1.

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Click to generate the new coordinate system. In the Tree Outline Window, select the new
coordinate system you created (defaulted to Plane 4), then click to create a new sketch. This will
create a sketching plane on the XY plane with the tail of the airfoil as the origin. At the bottom of the Tree
Outline Window, click the Sketching tab to bring up the sketching window.

The first action we will take is create the arc of the C-Mesh domain. Click . The first
click selects the center of the arc, and the next two clicks determine the end points of the arc. We want
the center of the arc to be at the tail of the airfoil. Click on the origin of the sketch, making sure the P
symbol is showing

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For the end points of the arc, first select a point on the vertical axis above the origin (a C symbol will
show), then select a point on the vertical axis below the origin. You should end up with the following:

To create the right side of the C-Mesh donain, click . Click the following points
to create the rectangle in this order - where the arc meets the positive vertical axis, where the arc meets
the negative vertical axis, then anywhere in the right half plane. The final result should look like this:

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Now, we need to get rid of necessary lines created by the rectangle. Select Modify in the Sketching
Toolboxes window, then select . Click the lines of the rectangle the are collinear with the
positive and negative vertical axises. Now, select the Dimensions toolbox to dimension the C-Mesh
domain. Click , followed by the arc to dimension the arc. Assign the arc a value of 12.5.
Next, select . Click the vertical axis and the vertical portion of the rectangle in the right half
plane. Also assign the horizontal dimension a value of12.5.

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Click here to enlarge the image

Next, we need to create a surface from this sketch. To accomplish this, go to Concept > Surface From
Sketches. Click anywehere on the sketch, and select Base Objects > Apply in the Details
View Window. Also, select Operation > Add Frozen. Once you have the correct settings,
click . The final step of creating the C-Mesh is creating a surface between the boundary and
the airfoil. To do this, go to Create > Boolean. In the Details View window, select Operation >
Subtract. Next, select Target Bodies > Not selected , select the large C-Mesh domain surface,
then click Apply. Repeat the same process to select the airfoil as the Tool Body. When you have
selected the bodies, click

Selecting the Airfoil Body

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Select the layer that corresponds to the airfoil and the airfoil will be highlighted.

Create Quadrants

In the final step of creating the geometry, we will break up the new surface into 4 quadrants; this will be
useful for when we want to mesh the geometry. To begin, select Plane 4 in the Tree Outline Window,
and click . Open the sketching menu, and select . Draw a line on the vertical axis that
intersects the entire C mesh. Trim away the lines that are beyond the C-Mesh, and you should be left with
this:

Next, go to Concepts > Lines from Sketchs. Select the line you just drew and click Base Objects >
Apply, followed by . Now that you have created a vertical line, create a new sketch and
repeat the process for a horizontal line that is collinear to horizontal axis and bisects the geometry.

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Now, we need to project the lines we just created onto the surface. Go to Tools > Projection.
Select Edges press Ctrl and select on the vertical line we drew (you'll have to select both parts of it),
then press Apply. Next, select Target and select the C-Mesh surface, then clickApply.

Once you click , you'll notice that the geometry is now composed of two surfaces split by the
line we selected. Repeat this process to create 2 more projections: one projection the line left of the origin
onto the left surface, and one projecting the right line on the right surface. When you're finished, the
geometry should be split into 4 parts.

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The geometry is finished. Save the project and close the design modeler, as we are now we are ready to
create the mesh for the simulation.

Mesh

Mapped Face Meshing

First, we will apply a mapped face meshing control to the geometry. In the Outline window, click
on Mesh to bring up the Meshing Toolbar. In the Meshing Toolbar, select Mesh Control > Mapped Face
Meshing. Making sure the face selection filter is selected , select all four faces by holding down the
right mouse button and dragging the mouse of all of the quadrants of the geometry. When all of the faces
are highlighted green, in the Details view Window select Geometry > Apply. Next, select

Edge Sizing

Next, we will apply edge sizing controls to all of the edges of the mesh. To begin, go to Mesh Control >
Sizing. Next, click the edge selection filter . Select the following 4 edges buy holding Ctrl and using
the left mouse button:

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Click here to enlarge

Once the edges are selected, in the Details View Window select Geometry > Apply. Next,
select Type > Number of Divisions. Change the Number of Divisions to 50. Select Behavior
> Hard. We also want the mesh to have a bias, so select the first bias type:Bais > ----- — - -, and give
the edge sizing a Bias Factor of 150. The Edge sizing should now look like this:

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Notice that the element sizes get smaller towards the airfoil. This will give us a better resolution around
the airfoil where the flow gets more complicated. Create a new edge sizing with the same parameters, but
choose the 4 remaining straight edges (see figure below). The number of divisions will still be 50, but now
will be selecting a different biasing type by selecting the second Bias option: Bias > - - — -----. Again,
set theBias Factor to 150

Edge Bias
It is important to make sure that the edge divisions to this point are biased towards the center of the mesh : otherw
problems later. If your mesh does not match the pictures in the tutorial, make sure to change the parameters of the mes
this might mean choosing different edges for the different biasing types than those outlined in this tutorial.

Finally, create a third edge sizing, and select the rounded edges as the geometry. Again, select Type >
Number of Divisions, and changeNumber of Divisions to 100. Select Behavior > Hard. This
time, we will not bias the edges.

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Now, select Mesh > Generate to generate the mesh. It should look like this.

Click here to enlarge

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Named Selections

Now will assign names to some of the edges to make creating boundary conditions for the mesh easier.
Let's recall the boundary conditions we planned in the Pre-Analysis Step:

The edges highlighted blue are the inlet, the edges highlighted red are the outlet, and the airfoil is
highlighted white in the middle. Now we are ready to name the sections. In the Outline window, select
geometry - this will make seeing the edges a little easier. Again make sure the edge selection tool is
selected. Now, select the two vertical edges on the far right side of the mesh. Right click, and
select Create Named Selections. Name the edges outlet. Next, select the edges that correspond
to the inlet of the flow as defined by the picture above. Again, right click and select Create Named
Selections and this time name the selection inlet. Finally, select the two edges making up the airfoil,
and name the selection airfoil.

Setup(Physics)

Launch the Solver

In this step, we will open fluent and define the boundary conditions of the problem. If you haven't already,

close the meshing window to return to the Project Outline window. Now, click . This
will load the mesh into FLUENT. Now, double click Setup. The Fluent LauncherWindow should open.
Check the box marked Double Precision. To make the solver run a little quicker, under Processing
Options we will select Parallel and change the Number of Processes to 2. This will allow users
with a double core processor to utilize both.

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Select the Solver

Click OK to launch Fluent. The first thing we will do once Fluent launches is define the solver we are
going to use. Select Problem Setup > General. Under Solver, select Density-Based.

Models and Materials

Next, we will define the model we are going to use. We do this by going Problem Setup > Models >
Viscous-Laminar. Then pressEdit... This will open the Viscous Model Menu Window.
Select Inviscid and press OK. Now, we will specify characteristics of the fluid. Because we specified the
fluid as inviscid, we will only have to define the density of the fluid. To make matters even simpler, we are
only looking for non-dimensionalized values like pressure coefficient, so we will define the density of our
fluid to be 1 kg/m^3. To define the density, clickProblem Setup > Materials > (double click) Air.
This will launch the Create/Edit Materials window.

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Under Properties, ensure that density is set to Constant and enter 1 kg/m^3 as the density.
Click Change/Create to set the density.

Boundary Conditions

Inlet

Now that the fluid has been described, we are ready to set the boundary conditions of the simulation.
Bring up the boundary conditions menu by selecting Problem Setup > Boundary Conditions . In
the Boundary Conditions window, look under Zones. First, let's set the boundary conditions for the
inlet. Select Inlet to see the details of the boundary condition. The boundary condition type should have
defaulted tovelocity-inlet: if it didn't, select it. Now, click Edit to bring up the Velocity-Inlet Window.
We need to specify the magnitude and direction of the velocity. Select Velocity Specification
Method > Components. Remember, we want the flow to enter the inlet at an angle of 6 degrees

since the angle of attack of the airfoil is 6 degrees; thus, the x velocity will be , and the y velocity will

be . Specify X-Velocity as0.9945 m/s and Y-Velocity as 0.1045 m/s. When you have
finished specifying the velocity as entering the inlet at 6 degrees (the same thing as having an angle of
attack of 6 degrees), press OK

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Outlet

In the Boundary Conditions window, look under Zones. Select Outlet to see the details of the
boundary condition. The boundary condition type should have defaulted to pressure-outlet: if it didn't,
select it. Click Edit, and ensure that the Gauge Pressure is defaulted to 0. If it is, you may close this
window.

Airfoil

In the Boundary Conditions window, look under Zones and select airfoil. Select Type > Wall if it
hasn't been defaulted.

Reference Values

The final thing to do before we move on to solution is to acknowledge the reference values. Go
to Problem Setup > Reference Values. In the Reference Values Window, select Compute
From > Inlet. Check the reference values that appear to make sure they are as we have already set
them.

Solution

Methods

First, go to Solution > Solution Methods. Everything in this section should have defaulted to what
we want, but let's make sure that underFlow the selection is Second Order Upwind. If this is the
selection, we may move on.

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Monitors

Now we are ready to begin solving the simulation. Before we hit solve though, we need to set up some
parameters for how Fluent will solve the simulation.

Let's begin by going to Solution > Monitors . In the Monitors Window, look under Residuals,
Statistic, and Force Monitors. SelectResiduals - Print,Plot and press Edit. In the Residual
Monitors Window, we want to change all of the Absolute Criteria to 1e-6. This will give us some
further trust in our solution.

Initial Guess

Now, we need to initialize the solution. Go to Solution > Solution Initialization . In the Solution
Initialization Window, select Compute From > Inlet. Ensure the values that appear are the same
values we inputted in Step 5. If the are, initialize the solution by clicking Initialize.

Solve

Once the solution has been initialized, we are ready to solve the simulation. Go to Solution > Run
Calculation. Change Number of Iterations to 3000, then double click Calculate. Sit back and
twiddle your thumbs until Fluent spits out a converged solution.

Results

Velocity

First, we will look at the velocity vectors of the solution to see if the make intuitive sense. To plot the
velocity vectors, go to Results > Graphics and Animations . In the Graphics and
Animations Window, select Vectors and click Set Up.... This will bring up theVectors Menu.

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Make sure the settings of the menu match the figure above: namely Vectors of > Velocity, Color by
> Velocity, and set the second box as Velocity Magnitude. To see the velocity vectors,
press Display.

Pressure Contours

To view the pressure contours over the entire mesh, go to Results > Graphics and
Animations again, and in the Graphics and Animations Window, select Contours.
Click Set Up... to bring up the Contours Menu. Check the box next to Filled. Under Contours Of,
ensure that the two boxes that are selected are Pressure... and Static Pressure.

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Once these parameters are set, press Display to see the pressure contours.

Streamlines

To view the streamlines, keep the Contours window open, and change the Contours Of box
to Velocity, and the box below to Stream Function. Change Levels to 100. Also, uncheck the box
marked Auto Range, and set Min(kg/s) to 13.11, and Max(kg/s) to 14.16

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To view the streamlines, press Display

Pressure Coefficient

Next, we will plot the pressure coefficient along the surface of the airfoil. Click on Results > Plots to
open up the Plots Window. Under Plots, select XY Plot, and click Set Up.... In the window that pops
up, change the settings Y-Axis Function > Pressure , and change the second box to Pressure
Coefficient. Ensure X-Axis Function > Direction Vector . Under Surfaces, select airfoil. See
the figure below for help.

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When all the settings are correct, press Plot to plot the data to the command window. To save the data
to a text file, check the box next toWrite to File. You'll notice that the Plot button has been replaced by
a button marked Write..., click it. Change the file type to All Files and save the file name
as Pressure_Coefficient.txt

Coefficients of Lift and Drag

To find the Coefficients of Lift and Drag, click Results > Reports to bring up the Reports Window. In
the Reports Window, select Forcesand click Set Up.... This will bring up the Force Reports menu

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We need to set the parameters so drag across the airfoil (keep in mind, which is at an angle) will be
displayed. In the Force Reports window change the Direction Vector such that X > .9945 and Y
> .1045. Click Print to print the drag coefficient to the command window. To print the lift coefficient, in
the Force Reports window change the Direction Vector such that X > -.1045 and Y > .9945.

Again, pressPrint.

Verification and Validation

Verification

One of the ways we can verify our data is by refining the mesh. Open up the mesh, and increase
the Number of Divisions for Edge Sizingand Edge Sizing 2 to 100. Click Mesh in
the Outline window, and in the Details window, expand statistics. The number of elements should
now be 40000.

Click here to enlarge

Exit out of the mesher. First, right click Setup and select Reset. Then click in the
project schematic. Open up the solver, and solve the simulation using the same solver and boundary
conditions (you'll have to input them again), but this time change the number of iterations to 5000. Again,
calculate the force coefficients and graph the pressure coefficient.

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Validation

To validate our data, we will take a compare the data from actual experiment.

Unrefined Mesh Refined Mesh Experimental Data

Lift Coeffient 0.6315 0.6670 0.6630

Drag Coefficient 0.0122 0.0063 0.0090

Below is a graph displaying the comparing Coefficient of Pressure along the airfoil for the experimental
data and the CFD simulation. The data is from Gregory & O'Reilly, NASA R&M 3726, Jan 1970.

Click here to see an enlarged image

As we can see from the table and the graph, the CFD matches the data fairly well. There are inaccuracies
from factors like our assumption that the flow was inviscid, but we still managed to extract some
meaningful information from the simulation.

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