Anisotropic hybrid turbulence modeling with specific application to the simulation of pulse-actuated dynamic stall control

Experimental studies have shown pulse actuated dynamic stall control may provide a simple means to significantly increase the performance of lifting surfaces and expand their flight envelope. However, precise information of the complex boundary layer reattachment mechanisms are inaccessible to experimental measurements. Therefore, simulations are necessary to fully understand, optimize, and apply this method. Due to the inherent shortcomings of RANS, computational expense of LES, and deficiencies in current hybrid modeling approaches, a new hybrid modeling framework has been developed. Based in using the two-point second-order structure function to drive a local equilibrium between resolved and modeled turbulence, the new approach addresses issues associated with inhomogeneous and anisotropic grids as well as the treatment of the RANS/LES interface in hybrid simulations. Numerical studies using hybrid RANS/LES modeling approaches of a stalled airfoil with spanwise-uniform actuation regions experiencing single pulse actuated flow reattachment have been performed. The mechanism responsible for reattachment has been identified as a repeating wall-vortex interaction process. The new hybrid framework and anisotropic SGS models developed here are anticipated to be of great benefit well beyond the focus of this work with application to many challenging flow situations of pressing engineering interest.