Model/simplification for mid-hi Re flow?
 

Hi,

I'm going to work on moving airfoils at Re=10000 for my research. I'm reading on the literature and deciding which model I need to use?

Can someone comment on that? I've read ppl using reynolds averaged NS equation, turbulence models and adding numerical dissipation etc.

Do I need to use any of these for my problem? Or is the original NS eqn sufficient?

Thank you very much.

Re: Model/simplification for mid-hi Re flow?
 

From the Reynolds number, I guess you are looking at subsonic speeds in air. You mention moving, which I take to mean pitching. Final assumption (bit of a stretch) is you're looking at 2D airfoil sections.

In terms of outcomes, I presume you'll want lift, drag and pitching moment - maybe also pressure co-efficient at various positions around the airfoil.

You could go with a RANS solver, or given you are likely to encounter laminar flow just the NS as you suggest.

However, before you do anything I would suggest investigating less compute intensive methods such as panel methods as outlined in Low-Speed Aerodynamics, Katz & Plotkin: http://www.amazon.com/Low-Speed-Aero...dp/0521665523/

In terms of 2D modeling you might consider Xfoil: http://web.mit.edu/drela/Public/web/xfoil/

If you want more reasons to try a panel method: http://www.symscape.com/blog/why_use_panel_method

Full disclosure: I represent <a href=http://www.symscape.com/>Symscape</a>: Computer-Aided Engineering for All