Prediction of the flow around the X-31 aircraft using three different CFD methods

Recent results from numerical investigations regarding the complex steady state and unsteady flow physics of the X-31 configuration within the low speed flow regime are presented. These investigations are established as a contribution to the RTO/AVT-161 Task Group focusing on “Assessment of Stability and Control Prediction Methods for NATO Air and Sea Vehicles”. The status of the ability to predict the steady state and unsteady flow comparing three different CFD methods will be presented. The validation process is based on essential experimental steady and unsteady tests. These tests are done with the focus of integrating CFD and Experiment by detailed determination of wind tunnel test boundary conditions, influences on specific components of the wind tunnel model and support as well as on data acquisition process. The aim is to evaluate the status of the ability for giving a contribution to S&C analyses for configurations with non-linear aerodynamic behavior.