Structured and Unstructured Computations on the DLR-F4 Wing–Body Configuration

The accuracy of the DLR structured and unstructured computational fluid dynamic (CFD) codes in predicting aircraft forces and moments on a wing–body configuration at subsonic and transonic speeds is investigated. The computations form the contribution of the DLR and Airbus Deutschland to the AIAA CFD Drag Prediction Workshop (DPW) in June 2001. By the use of a combination of a high-quality grid, low levels of artificial dissipation, and an advanced turbulence model, the structured code (FLOWer) was able to predict both qualitatively and quantitatively the experimentally measured drag, lift, and pitching moments. Compared to the structured methods, the total time for grid and solution generation is significantly reduced with the unstructured approach. Nevertheless, in its current implementation, the unstructured code (TAU) was found to be less accurate in predicting forces and moments for the F4 case, although qualitatively the results were good.