Applications of computational fluid dynamics in support of aircraft instrumentation installations

Engineers at the 412th Test Engineering Group (TENG) have utilized computational fluid dynamics in support of numerous aircraft instrumentation efforts over the past decade. Simulations have been used a priori to determine sensor placement, iteratively to support design, and forensically to explain anomalies. A variety of tools were employed. Aerodynamic simulations have ranged from simple 2-dimensional panel methods to time-accurate detached-eddy simulations requiring hundreds of thousands of CPU-core hours on a modern supercomputers. However, the aerodynamic analysis is not the primary product. It is merely a supporting element in determining the airworthiness of the test instrumentation installation, or assessing the aerodynamic behavior of a particular design.