Transonic Store Separation Using Unstructured CFD with Dynamic Meshing

Time-accurate computational fluid dynamic simulations of a transonic store separation event have been performed. These simulations demonstrate the use of a dynamic unstructured tetrahedral mesh approach to this class of problem (as opposed to the typical overset grid approach). A combination of spring-based smoothing and local remeshing are employed with an implicit, second-order upwind accurate Euler solver. A six degree-of-freedom routine using a fourth-order multi-point time integration scheme is coupled with the flow solver to update the store trajectory information. The computational method is discussed, as well as advantages to this approach. Results presented and discussed include trajectory parameters and surface pressure distributions.