Simulation of transonic buffet with an automated zonal DES approach

A study of transonic buffet on the NASA Common Research Model at flight Reynolds numbers is presented. The ability of two different hybrid RANS/LES models as well as the URANS approach for resolving three-dimensional buffet motion was evaluated by means of spectral analysis. Automated Zonal DES and URANS simulations show similar results in terms of buffet frequency and spanwise propagation of buffet cells, whereas the Delayed Detached Eddy Simulation results indicate a strong interaction between flow separation and shock motion. The extracted characteristic frequencies which are associated with transonic buffet are located in a range of Sr = 0.2–0.65 for URANS and AZDES and are therefore in accordance with findings from related recent research. Furthermore, the simulation time series were investigated and a structure of spanwise moving buffet cells with varying convection speed and wavelength could be observed. © 2020, The Author(s).