Novel scalar-vector potential formulation for three-dimensional, inviscid, rotational flow problems

Abstract

A computational method for the calculation of steady, strongly rotational, inviscid, subsonic flowfields in three-dimensional ducts is presented. The method is based on the decomposition of the velocity vector into a potential and rotational part through the Helmholtz theorem. The computational algorithm requires the solution of elliptic-type equations for the scalar and vector potentials, where a completely novel approach for solving the vector potential equation has been adopted. The new formulation has better physical meaning than our previous one and has the great advantage of decoupling the vector potential boundary conditions. The use of very fast elliptic solvers, based on preconditioned minimization techniques, leads to very economic computations. The transport equations are handled in their Lagrangian form