Generation of boundary-conforming grids around wing-body configurations using transfinite interpolation

A computational procedure for generating three-dimensional nonorthogonal surface-fitted mesh systems around wing-fuselage configurations is presented. The method is based on the concept of transfinite interpolation, which has been extended to handle very general mapping function specifications at the boundaries, thereby making it possible to generate single-block mappings with geometry data specified only at the outer boundaries of the computational domain. Since it is a direct algebraic mapping technique, the method is very inexpensive in terms of computer cost. Different types of possible mappings are compared with respect to resolution and economy of nodal points. A procedure for a novel type of mapping, designated type O-O, is described and several plots of generated grids demonstrate the capabilities of the method. The singular lines inherent in every three-dimensional mesh for this type of surface geometry are also discussed.