High-Order-Accurate Incompressible Flow Solver for High-Fidelity Numerical Simulations and Linear Stability Analysis

Abstract

The development of high-fidelity versatile incompressible Navier–Stokes solver that is applicable for both direct numerical simulations (DNSs) and linear global stability investigations is presented and discussed. The solver is based on a vorticity–velocity formulation of the Navier–Stokes equations for orthogonal curvilinear grids. A rigorous and efficient approach is proposed that guarantees the divergence-free condition for the velocity and vorticity fields. The code incorporates advanced numerical algorithms including compact finite differences in combination with a pseudo-spectral method, together with an efficient and high-order-accurate Poisson solver. Linear stability modules based on the linearized Navier–Stokes equations (LNSEs) tailored for primary and secondary instability analyses are developed and incorporated into the code, such that the solver can switch from DNS to LNSE in a consistent manner by turning off the nonlinear terms and vice versa. The linear framework includes all the nonparallel effects with respect to the steady/unsteady baseflow and the form of disturbances, and because it is formulated as an initial value problem, both convective and absolute/global instability mechanisms can be investigated. An additional significant advantage of the linear module is that, for the secondary stability analysis, time-periodic assumption is not required and/or the unsteady baseflow does not have to be computed a priori. In the present paper, results obtained with the new Navier–Stokes solver are compared with benchmark solutions for the flow past a static and oscillating circular cylinder. The new code then was employed for a three-dimensional DNS of the flow for a wing section with a modified NACA 6 series airfoil at a chord Reynolds number of [Formula: see text]. Furthermore, the capability of the linear stability modules was demonstrated by investigating the primary and secondary (convective and absolute) instability mechanisms for boundary layers and the flow past a circular cylinder.