Improving CFD mesh generation

One of the fundamental properties affecting aerodynamic performance of a body is its shape. Demands for improved performance and optimization of airframe shape simulation and analysis continue to increase. The International TechneGroup Incorporated (ITI) CADfix team worked with geometry handling and integration (GHandI) program partners to develop capabilities for extracting information from geometry and adapting the data for use elsewhere in the aerodynamic simulation process. These capabilities included enabling the automatic generation of a high quality mesh for computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation of the airflow around an aircraft.

CADfix made three key contributions: advances in the unique CADfix medial object technology, automatic domain subdivision of the air close to the aircraft skin into connected partitions, and the development of a framework for integrating best in class meshing technologies and external components to orchestrate the creation of a high quality hybrid CFD mesh. The results demonstrate the potential for real application in future aerospace programs, and extend to improving geometry handling for internal airflow simulation in aero engines, hypersonic simulation of missiles, and other advanced aircraft simulations.

“The success of this initiative is meaningful for both the aerospace industry at large and for ITI,” stated Mark Gammon, Technical Director and CADfix Product Manager at ITI. “Working with the medial object as the basis for leading edge geometry processing operations such as those developed within GHandI is unique to CADfix. At this time, CADfix has proven success in implementing real world applications of this academic theory, and has achieved exacting and robust results for generating high-quality mesh.”