Computation of a Kelvin-Helmholtz Instability for Delta Wing Vortex Flows.

摘要

The structure of the shear layer which emanates from the leading edge of a 76 degrees sweep delta wing and forms the primary vortex is investigated numerically. The flow conditions are M at infinity = 0.2, Re = 50,000 and angle of attack of 20.5 degrees. Computational results are obtained using a Beam-Warning type algorithm. The existence of a Kelvin-Helmholtz type instability of the shear layer which emanates from the leading edge of the delta wing is demonstrated. A description is provided of the three-dimensional, unsteady behavior of the small-scale vortices associated with this instability. The numerical results are compared qualitatively with experimental flow visualizations exhibiting similar behavior.