A combined pFFT-multipole tree code, unsteady panel method with vortex particle wakes

Abstract

Potential flow solvers for 3-D aerodynamic flows are commonly used in industrial applications. Two main difficulties preventing the even more widespread use of these codes are the limitations on the number of discretization elements and the user expertise and effort required to specify the wake location. In the paper we present an automatic wake generation strategy for a potential flow solver, and accelerate the method using a pFFT-Fast Multipole Tree algorithm. The combined method can be used to simulate both steady and unsteady flows. The steady state solution is achieved by running an unsteady flow simulation until it reaches a steady state. Computation results are given to demonstrate that the method is fast enough to automatically simulate entire heaving and flapping wing crafts in under and hour on a desktop computer. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.