Three-dimensional transonic nacelle/inlet flowfield computations using an efficient approximate factorization algorithm

A highly efficient computer analysis has been developed for predicting transonic nacelle/inlet flowfields. This algorithm can compute the three-dimensional transonic flowfield about axisymmetric or asymmetric nacelle/inlet configurations at zero or nonzero incidence. The flowfield is determined by solving the full-potential equation in conservative form on a body-fitted curvilinear computational mesh. The difference equations are solved using the AF2 approximate factorization scheme. The effects of boundary layer viscous entrainment are approximated in the inviscid algorithm by applying a surface transpiration velocity which is determined from the calculated boundary layer growth. Computed results and correlations with existing methods and experiment are presented to illustrate application of the analysis.