PROGRESS IN COMPUTATIONAL FLUID DYNAMICS, cilt.24, sa.6, ss.315-332, 2024 (SCI-Expanded)
The aim of the current study is to develop an alternative actuator disc model in the SU2 (Stanford University Unstructured) software using the blade element theory (BEM) approach. The objective is to reduce computational costs and save time with accurate results. The integrated model has applications in optimising rotating components such as propellers, wind turbines, axial turbines, etc., as well as accurately predicting wake structures. The new actuator disc model proposed in this study is a steady-state model that assumes an infinite number of blades within the disc domain, making it applicable to varying flow conditions, such as the forward flight of helicopters or aircraft experiencing an angle of attack. The new model was validated by comparing it with experimental data and another high-fidelity tool, which is the rotating frame approach. These comparisons demonstrated that the new model performs accurately and can be a better option than the rotating frame.