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The paper gives a detailed description of the developed methods for simulating the turbulent flow around a helicopter rotor and calculating its aerodynamic characteristics. The system of Reynolds-averaged Navier – Stokes equations for a viscous compressible gas closed by the Spalart –Allmaras turbulence model is used as the basic mathematical model. The model is formulated in a non-inertial rotating coordinate system associated with a rotor. To set the boundary conditions on the surface of the rotor, wall functions are used.

The numerical solution of the resulting system of differential equations is carried out on mixed-element unstructured grids including prismatic layers near the surface of a streamlined body.The numerical method is based on the original vertex-centered finite-volume EBR schemes. A feature of these schemes is their higher accuracy which is achieved through the use of edge-based reconstruction of variables on extended quasi-onedimensional stencils, and a moderate computational cost which allows for serial computations. The methods of Roe and Lax – Friedrichs are used as approximate Riemann solvers. The Roe method is corrected in the case of low Mach flows. When dealing with discontinuities or solutions with large gradients, a quasi-one-dimensional WENO scheme or local switching to a quasi-one-dimensional TVD-type reconstruction is used. The time integration is carried out according to the implicit three-layer second-order scheme with Newton linearization of the system of difference equations. To solve the system of linear equations, the stabilized conjugate gradient method is used.

The numerical methods are implemented as a part of the in-house code NOISEtte according to the two-level MPI–OpenMP parallel model, which allows high-performance computations on meshes consisting of hundreds of millions of nodes, while involving hundreds of thousands of CPU cores of modern supercomputers.

Based on the results of numerical simulation, the aerodynamic characteristics of the helicopter rotor are calculated, namely, trust, torque and their dimensionless coefficients.

Validation of the developed technique is carried out by simulating the turbulent flow around the Caradonna – Tung two-blade rotor and the KNRTU-KAI four-blade model rotor in hover mode mode, tail rotor in duct, and rigid main rotor in oblique flow. The numerical results are compared with the available experimental data.

Numerical simulation of moving sportsman external flow is presented. The unique method is developed for obtaining integral aerodynamic characteristics, which were the function of the flow regime (i.e. angle of attack, flow speed) and body position. Individual anthropometric characteristics and moving boundaries of sportsman (or sports equipment) during the race are taken into consideration.

Numerical simulation is realized using FlowVision CFD. The software is based on the finite volume method, high-performance numerical methods and reliable mathematical models of physical processes. A Cartesian computational grid is used by FlowVision, the grid generation is a completely automated process. Local grid adaptation is used for solving high-pressure gradient and object complex shape. Flow simulation process performed by solutions systems of equations describing movement of fluid and/or gas in the computational domain, including: mass, moment and energy conservation equations; state equations; turbulence model equations. FlowVision permits flow simulation near moving bodies by means of computational domain transformation according to the athlete shape changes in the motion. Ski jumper aerodynamic characteristics are studied during all phases: take-off performance in motion, in-run and flight. Projected investigation defined simulation method, which includes: inverted statement of sportsman external flow development (velocity of the motion is equal to air flow velocity, object is immobile); changes boundary of the body technology defining; multiple calculations with the national team member data projecting. The research results are identification of the main factors affected to jumping performance: aerodynamic forces, rotating moments etc. Developed method was tested with active sportsmen. Ski jumpers used this method during preparations for Sochi Olympic Games 2014. A comparison of the predicted characteristics and experimental data shows a good agreement. Method versatility is underlined by performing swimmer and skater flow simulation. Designed technology is applicable for sorts of natural and technical objects.