Improving the Accuracy of Euler/Boundary-Layer Solvers with Anisotropic Diffusion Methods

Euler analysis in 3-D can be interactively coupled with 2-D boundary-layer solvers to improve accuracy. Such coupling requires a method to interpolate the boundary layer properties between the 2-D solution strips onto the entire 3-D surface model. An advanced elliptic solver for propagating this boundary layer solution has been developed that exhibits improved accuracy over traditional solvers. The new solver exploits the already available pressure data from the Euler solver and the properties of anisotropic diffusion to better interpolate the boundary-layer data. Results from applying this method on two geometries are presented and compared to both Navier-Stokes solutions and experimental data. The results are also compared to a previously implemented traditional solver in terms of the quality of the solution. Conclusions are drawn as to the accuracy and practical application of the method.