Wall-resolved large eddy simulations (LES) reveal detailed fluid dynamics in a subsonic fan. These contours of radial velocity in the tip clearance highlight the formation of the tip vortex and boundary layer instabilities at the rotor blade tip. Image: Spiegel et al., AIAA SciTech 2025 (https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2025-0061)
This project is carrying out high-fidelity computational simulations to evaluate modeling approaches and provide fundamental insights into fluid-dynamics phenomena in next-generation narrow-body aircraft engines, providing insights to guide accurate and cost-effective engine design.
The U.S. commercial aviation industry is a strategic asset for the U.S. economy. Narrow-body aircraft, such as the Boeing 737 MAX and the Airbus A320neo, account for the largest share of the commercial aircraft market, primarily due to their reduced fuel consumption. The next-generation turbofan engine for narrow-body aircraft is targeted for service entry in the 2030s, with a projected 5-10% reduction in fuel burn compared to 2020 best-in-class narrow-body aircraft. Today, North America dominates the aircraft engine market. Achieving next-generation engine performance targets is critical to enabling U.S. industry to continue its leading role in the narrow-body aircraft market. To achieve the design goals of the next-generation aircraft engine, two fundamental questions must be answered: “What level of simulation accuracy is required? And what is the cost of those simulations?” Understanding the limitations of different modeling approaches is critical to reducing the cost of numerical simulation while still maintaining the necessary level of accuracy. This project will perform computational studies to address these questions and help inform the U.S. aerospace community. By comparing Unsteady Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (URANS) simulations with Hybrid-RANS Large-Eddy Simulations (LES) and Wall-Resolved LES, the strengths and weaknesses of each simulation approach can be quantified for a modern high-pressure compressor. This effort will also provide fundamental insights into the complex fluid-dynamics phenomena at play in the next generation of aircraft engines.
