STALSUns · Short-time analysis of large-scale structures in unsteady flows

Short-time analysis of large-scale structures in unsteady flows

Flow systems play a vital role in the operation and performance of modern aerospace applications. Understanding their physical behavior is crucial for developing new technologies that optimize the efficiency and safety of future generations of aircraft and reduce their environmental impact. Most flow configurations encountered in the aerospace industry are unsteady and are characterized by turbulent motion, whose dynamics are not well understood. Examples include the separated flow in turbine blades, the noise generated by jet engines or the recirculation regions induced by flame holders in combustion chambers. Stability analysis offers a physics-based theoretical framework for understanding the evolution of instabilities in a given flow field and to reveal actuation mechanisms that can be exploited to achieve flow optimisation and control. Almost all flow stability and sensitivity studies available up to date are based on time-invariant (either steady or time-averaged) flows. These approaches fail to provide the necessary framework for configurations in which the underlying flow is unsteady, therefore preventing the access to relevant dynamic information about the behaviour of such flows. Given this shortcoming, novel theoretical approaches are necessary to provide new insight into the behaviour of unsteady flow systems, and to develop models for their prediction and control. The goal of the STALSUns project is to develop a new methodology capable of predicting the short-time stability characteristics of unsteady flows of practical interest, and apply it to relevant problems in aerospace engineering. The output of this goal consists of new physical understanding beyond the state of the art that can be exploited in the future to control such flows, leading to: (1) more efficient engines with lower pollutant emissions, (2) reduced engine noise levels and (3) safer transport, therefore reducing the environmental impact of future aircraft generations. From the socioeconomic point of view, the outcomes of this research project are expected to contribute towards achieving the objectives set in Europe’s vision for aviation (Flightpath 2050). The research undertaken during the project is also expected to have a scientific impact on the fields of dynamical systems analysis, renewable energy engineering and meteorology and climate sciences. The development of a new theoretical/computational methodology for performing finite-time stability analysis in general three-dimensional flow configurations will boost lines of research on the fundamental understanding of turbulent flows.

Текст от CORDIS, на английски · Данни: CORDIS, © Европейски съюз