Resolvent analysis of a finite wing in transonic flow

Abstract

Shock waves interacting with turbulent boundary layers on wings can result first in self-sustained flow unsteadiness and eventually in structural vibration. Due to its importance to modern wing design and aircraft certification, the transonic flow physics continue to be investigated intensively. Herein we focus the discussion on three main aspects. First, we assess a practical implementation of an iterative resolvent algorithm in the linear harmonic incarnation of an industrial computational fluid dynamics code for computing optimal forcing and response modes. This heavily relies on the efficient solution of large sparse linear systems of equations. Second, we showcase its application as a predictive tool to detect transonic buffet flow unsteadiness, well before a global stability analysis can first identify its dynamics through weakly damped eigenmodes, using the NASA common research model at wind-tunnel conditions. Third, we discuss its ability to uncover modal physics, not identifiable through global stability analysis, revealing higher-frequency wake and wingtip vortex modes while shedding some light on the elusive finite wing equivalent of the aerofoil buffet mode. We demonstrate that earlier computational limitations of resolvent analysis, when solving the truncated singular value decomposition using matrix-forming methods with direct matrix factorisation, have been overcome ready for industrial use.