Comparison of Two Three-Dimensional Unsteady Navier-Stokes Codes Applied to a Turbine Stage Flow Analysis.

A comparison between two numerical flow solution methods, one based on atructured grids and the other based on unstructured grids, is made by using both methods to solve for steady and unsteady flowfields in turbomachinery blade rows. Numerical results from the two different methods are compared to each other as well as to available experimental data. Both methods solve the three-dimensional Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations using the finite volume technique, and can be run in steady-state or time-accurate unsteady modes. The structured solver uses a pressure-based method applied to hexahedral control volumes and a standard two-equation turbulence model. The unstructured solver uses a density-based method applied to tetrahedral control volumes and the one-equation Spalart-Allmaras turbulence model. The objective of the comparison is to assess the current capabilities of the unstructured flow solver relative to those of a well established structured flow solver, and to establish areas for further development to improve accuracy and economy.

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