Finite Element Computation of the Dynamics of Large Ram Air Parachutes

摘要

This research is aimed at simulation of the aerodynamics/dynamics of large parafoils. Parallel computation methods for 3D simulation of the dynamics and fluid dynamics of a parafoil, with prescribed, time-dependent shape changes were studied. The mathematical model was based on the time-dependent, 3D Navier- Stokes equations governing the incompressible flow around the parafoil, and Newton's law of motion governing the dynamics of the parafoil,, with the aerodynamic forces acting on the parafoil, calculated from the flow field. The computational methods developed for these 3D simulations include a stabilized space-time finite element formulation to accommodate for the shape changes, special mesh generation and mesh moving strategies developed for this purpose, iterative solution techniques for the large, coupled nonlinear equation systems involved, and parallel implementation of all these methods on scalable computing systems.