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The work submits new release of the FlowVision software designed for automation of engineering calculations in computational fluid dynamics: FlowVision 3.09.05. The FlowVision software is used for solving different industrial problems. Its popularity is based on the capability to solve complex non-tradition problems involving different physical processes. The paradigm of complete automation of labor-intensive and time-taking processes like grid generation makes FlowVision attractive for many engineers. FlowVision is completely developer-independent software. It includes an advanced graphical interface, the system for specifying a computational project as well as the system for flow visualization on planes, on curvilinear surfaces and in volume by means of different methods: plots, color contours, iso-lines, iso-surfaces, vector fields. Besides that, FlowVision provides tools for calculation of integral characteristics on surfaces and in volumetric regions.

The software is based on the finite-volume approach to approximation of the partial differential equations describing fluid motion and accompanying physical processes. It provides explicit and implicit methods for time integration of these equations. The software includes automated generator of unstructured grid with capability of its local dynamic adaptation. The solver involves two-level parallelism which allows calculations on computers with distributed and shared memory (coexisting in the same hardware). FlowVision incorporates a wide spectrum of physical models: different turbulence models, models for mass transfer accounting for chemical reactions and radioactive decay, several combustion models, a dispersed phase model, an electro-hydrodynamic model, an original VOF model for tracking moving interfaces. It should be noted that turbulence can be simulated within URANS, LES, and ILES approaches. FlowVision simulates fluid motion with velocities corresponding to all possible flow regimes: from incompressible to hypersonic. This is achieved by using an original all-speed velocity-pressure split algorithm for integration of the Navier-Stokes equations.

FlowVision enables solving multi-physic problems with use of different modeling tools. For instance, one can simulate multi-phase flows with use of the VOF method, flows past bodies moving across a stationary grid (within Euler approach), flows in rotary machines with use of the technology of sliding grid. Besides that, the software solves fluid-structure interaction problems using the technology of two-way coupling of FlowVision with finite-element codes. Two examples of solving challenging problems in the FlowVision software are demonstrated in the given article. The first one is splashdown of a spacecraft after deceleration by means of jet engines. This problem is characterized by presence of moving bodies and contact surface between the air and the water in the computational domain. The supersonic jets interact with the air-water interphase. The second problem is simulation of the work of a human heart with artificial and natural valves designed on the basis of tomographic investigations with use of a finite-element model of the heart. This problem is characterized by two-way coupling between the “liquid” computational domain and the finite-element model of the hart muscles.

The reentry vehicle of the transportation spacecraft that is being created by RSC Energia in regular mode makes soft landing on land surface using a parachute system and thruster devices. But in not standard situations the reentry vehicle also is capable of executing a splashdown. In that case, it becomes important to define the hydrodynamics impact on the reentry vehicle at the moment of the first contact with the surface of water and during submersion into water medium, and to study the dynamics of the vehicle behavior at more recent moments of time.

This article presents results of numerical studies of hydrodynamics forces on the conical vehicle during splashdown, done with the FlowVision software. The paper reviews the cases of the splashdown with inactive solid rocket motors on calm sea and the cases with interactions between rocket jets and the water surface. It presents data on the allocation of pressure on the vehicle in the process of the vehicle immersion into water medium and dynamics of the vehicle behavior after splashdown. The paper also shows flow structures in the area of the reentry vehicle at the different moments of time, and integral forces and moments acting on the vehicle.

For simulation process with moving interphases in the FlowVision software realized the model VOF (volume of fluid). Transfer of the phase boundary is described by the equation of volume fraction of this continuous phase in a computational cell. Transfer contact surface is described by the convection equation, and at the surface tension is taken into account by the Laplace pressure. Key features of the method is the splitting surface cells where data is entered the corresponding phase. Equations for both phases (like the equations of continuity, momentum, energy and others) in the surface cells are accounted jointly.

The Richtmyer–Meshkov and the Rayleigh–Taylor instabilities of viscoplastic (or the Bingham) fluids are studied in the three–dimensional formulation of the problem. A numerical modeling of the intermixing of two fluids with different rheology, whose densities differ twice, as a result of instabilities development process has been carried out. The development of the Richtmyer–Meshkov and the Rayleigh–Taylor instabilities of the Bingham fluids is analyzed utilizing the MacCormack and the Volume of Fluid (VOF) methods to reconstruct the interface during the process. Both the results of numerical simulation of the named instabilities of the Bingham liquids and their comparison with theory and the results of the Newtonian fluid simulation are presented. Critical amplitude of the initial perturbation of the contact boundary velocity field at which the development of instabilities begins was estimated. This critical amplitude presents because of the yield stress exists in the Bingham fluids. Results of numerical calculations show that the yield stress of viscoplastic fluids essentially affects the nature of the development of both Rayleigh–Taylor and Richtmyer–Meshkov instabilities. If the amplitude of the initial perturbation is less than the critical value, then the perturbation decays relatively quickly, and no instability develops.When the initial perturbation exceeds the critical amplitude, the nature of the instability development resembles that of the Newtonian fluid. In a case of the Richtmyer–Meshkov instability, the critical amplitudes of the initial perturbation of the contact boundary at different values of the yield stress are estimated. There is a distinction in behavior of the non-Newtonian fluid in a plane case: with the same value of the yield stress in three-dimensional geometry, the range of the amplitude values of the initial perturbation, when fluid starts to transit from rest to motion, is significantly narrower. In addition, it is shown that the critical amplitude of the initial perturbation of the contact boundary for the Rayleigh–Taylor instability is lower than for the Richtmyer–Meshkov instability. This is due to the action of gravity, which helps the instability to develop and counteracts the forces of viscous friction.

Certifying a transport airplane for the flights under icing conditions in Russia was carried out within the framework of the requirements of Annex С to the AP-25 Aviation Rules. In force since 2023 to replace AP-25 the new Russian certification document “Airworthiness Standards” (NLG-25) proposes the introduction of Appendix O. A feature of Appendix O is the need to carry out calculations in conditions of high liquid water content and with large water drops (500 microns or more). With such parameters of the dispersed flow, such physical processes as the disruption and splashing of a water film when large drops enter it become decisive. The flow of a dispersed medium under such conditions is essentially polydisperse. This paper describes the modifications of the IceVision technique implemented on the basis of the FlowVision software package for the ice accretion calculations within the framework of Appendix O.

The main difference between the IceVision method and the known approaches is the use of the Volume of fluid (VOF) technology to the shape of ice changes tracking. The external flow around the aircraft is calculated simultaneously with the growth of ice and its heating. Ice is explicitly incorporated in the computational domain; the heat transfer equation is solved in it. Unlike the Lagrangian approaches, the Euler computational grid is not completely rebuilt in the IceVision technique: only the cells containing the contact surface are changed.

The IceVision 2.0 version accounts for stripping the film, as well as bouncing and splashing of falling drops at the surfaces of the aircraft and ice. The diameter of secondary droplets is calculated using known empirical correlations. The speed of the water film flow over the surface is determined taking into account the action of aerodynamic forces, gravity, hydrostatic pressure gradient and surface tension force. The result of taking into account surface tension is the effect of contraction of the film, which leads to the formation of water flows in the form of rivulets and ice deposits in the form of comb-like growths. An energy balance relation is fulfilled on the ice surface that takes into account the energy of falling drops, heat exchange between ice and air, the heat of crystallization, evaporation, sublimation and condensation. The paper presents the results of solving benchmark and model problems, demonstrating the effectiveness of the IceVision technique and the reliability of the obtained results.