Validation of steady RANS simulations conducted on the high maneuverability airframe using magnetic resonance velocimetry water channel testing

A two part experiment was conducted on a projectile airframe. To aid the analysis of this airframe, a water channel was designed to perform Magnetic Resonance Velocimetry (MRV) experiments on the airframe geometry. Additionally, the experimental setup was modeled and several steady-state Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) simulations were performed using uniform inlet conditions in an attempt to replicate the experimental results. The purpose of this work was to provide meaningful three-dimensional velocity data through experimental methods to validate simulation techniques. Similar results between the experiments and simulations were found when comparing velocity profiles and flow structures downstream of the nose of the projectile. In this way, the MRV data successfully validated the RANS simulation velocity data. When comparing microstructures within the flow, namely vorticity, the RANS simulations did not accurately capture the experimental results, leaving further work to be completed on the experiments and simulations prior to achieving validation.