Numerical Simulation of Flow over a Thin Aerofoil at a High Reynolds Number Using a Transition Model

In this study, a prediction of the transition and stall characteristics of an NACA64A006 thin-aerofoil was numerically simulated by FLUENT using k—k_L—ω and k—ω shear-stress transport (SST) transition models, recently developed, and k—ω SST and k—ε turbulence models. Subsonic flow with free stream Mach number (M_∞) of 0.17 and the high Reynolds number (Re) of 5.8×10⁶ was considered at an angle of attack varying from 2° to 11°. However, the computed results were compared with the experiments of McCollough and Gault. Lift and pressure curves were accurately predicted using the k—k_L—ω transition model, while the k—ω SST transition model and the k—ω SST and k—ε turbulence models did not have a good agreement with the experimental results. The k—k_L—ω transition model showed that the laminar separation and turbulent reattachment occurred near the leading edge of the NACA64A006 thin aerofoil, which caused the formation of the laminar separation bubble on the suction surface as in the experiments. Consequently, the transition and stalling characteristics of this aerofoil were successfully predicted using FLUENT with the k—k_L—ω transition model at high Re number flow.