Prediction of Laminar/Turbulent Transition in Two-Dimensional Flows

Abstract

This study aims to develop a practical application to predict the laminar-turbulent transition in two- dimensional flows for industrial applications. The project uses open-source computational fluid dynamics (CFD) tools—namely OpenFOAM, ParaView, and blockMesh—to cover all stages of flow analysis, from pre-processing to solution and post-processing. The research reviews basic fluid dynamics equations, boundary conditions, and turbulence models, and examines current models for laminar-turbulent transition. For the simulations, different solvers are employed: simpleFoam and pimpleFoam for incompressible flows, rhoSimpleFoam for compressible flows. The study evaluates the stability, convergence, and consistency of the solutions using various boundary conditions and advection- convection schemes. Mesh independence studies, along with experimental and analytical validations, are conducted to confirm the model's reliability. Initial validation cases include examples, while later tests involve airfoil geometries like the NACA0012. In addition, for transition prediction, a study similar to the LASTRAC (Langley Stability and Transition Analysis Code) code will be carried out to further analyze transition phenomena and compare its performance with traditional CFD methods. This comprehensive approach enhances the understanding of CFD fundamentals and demonstrates the effective use of open-source tools in solving industrial flow problems.