Aerodynamic analysis of an installed thrust reverser

One of the most challenging problems for modern computational fluid dynamic s methods is the accurate calculation of installed thrust-reverser performa nce. In this paper, a three-dimensional Cartesian grid Euler method is used to compute the flow about a contemporary business jet with thrust reverser s deployed in ground effect, While the entire aircraft is included in this simulation, the multigrid procedure facilitates grid refinement near the th rust-reverser components. Further, the Cartesian grid structure can be asse mbled in a few days and preliminary design solutions computed in 1-2 h of C ray J90 time. More detailed solutions may be obtained via program restarts. Regardless, subsequent solutions at ether design points or with minor desi gn modifications are achieved within I-day elapsed time. For the case analy zed, computed particle traces are qualitatively similar to exhaust plume tr ajectories observed in tests on similar installations. Furthermore, the com puted pressure distribution on the windward side of the thrust-reverser doo r compares favorably with available test data, and the computed net braking force is within 2% of the measured data. Based on these data comparisons a nd the practical user/computational requirements of the method, numerical s imulations of installed thrust reverser applications are feasible for preli minary designs.