CFD Tool VSPAERO: Actuator Disk and Flow Visualization

Purpose – To show how VSPAERO as part of OpenVSP from NASA can be set up to visualize and analyze the flow around passenger aircraft lifting surfaces combined with jet engines. The actuator disk inside a duct is used to model this aero-propulsive interaction. --- Methodology – Aerodynamic results obtained with VSPAERO for wing and tail are compared, considering different engine positions. --- Findings – VSPAERO offers reliable results if the simulation is set up with care. The user must always keep an eye on model discretization and refinement, flow conditions, and actuator disk parameters. Depending on the purpose of the analysis, only a disk or rather a combination of a disk with a duct can be used. The combination of a disk with a duct shows the influence of jet engines on lifting surfaces in a more realistic way and improves the results of the calculation. Jet engines mounted on the wing disturb the flow around the wing. If engines would be mounted on the wing tip, their detrimental aerodynamic interference with the wing could be limited. --- Research Limitations – To use the actuator disk to model propellers is difficult. No attempt has been made to show this in this thesis. --- Practical Implications – VSPAERO can be used with ease, but substantial time is needed to get familiar with the program, although online help is available. This thesis may shorten the time to get results from calculations using the actuator disk to model jet engines in VSPAERO. --- Originality – This thesis contributes to the didactics of integrating jet engines into VSPAERO. Results obtained for jet engine positions on an Airbus A320 geometry only illustrate the approach. Engine integration is multidisciplinary and not a question of aerodynamics alone.研究目的——展示如何配置美国国家航空航天局（NASA）旗下OpenVSP工具包中的VSPAERO模块，实现民用客机升力面与喷气发动机组合体周围流场的可视化与分析。本研究采用涵道内的作动盘（actuator disk）来模拟该气动-推进相互作用。 --- 研究方法——针对不同的发动机安装位置，对比VSPAERO仿真得到的机翼与尾翼气动性能结果。 --- 研究结果——若仿真配置规范得当，VSPAERO可输出可靠的仿真结果。使用者需始终关注模型离散化与网格细化程度、流场边界条件以及作动盘参数设置。根据分析需求，可仅采用作动盘，或搭配涵道组合使用作动盘与涵道。作动盘与涵道的组合模型能够更真实地还原喷气发动机对升力面的影响，提升计算结果精度。安装于机翼的喷气发动机将干扰机翼周围流场；若将发动机安装于翼尖，则其与机翼间的不利气动干扰可得到有效抑制。 --- 研究局限性——采用作动盘模拟螺旋桨存在较大技术难度，本论文未就此开展相关尝试。 --- 实践意义——VSPAERO操作门槛较低，但尽管其提供在线帮助文档，使用者仍需投入大量时间熟悉该软件的使用方法。本论文可缩短使用者利用作动盘模拟喷气发动机、在VSPAERO中开展计算并获取结果的周期。 --- 研究创新性——本论文为在VSPAERO中集成喷气发动机的教学与实践提供了参考范式。针对空客A320（Airbus A320）几何模型开展的喷气发动机安装位置仿真结果，仅用于演示本研究方法的应用流程。发动机集成属于多学科交叉研究范畴，并非仅涉及气动领域单一学科。