Higher-order Upwind Distribution-formula Scheme for Structured and Unstructured Adaptive Flow Solvers

The development of inviscid and viscous flow solvers for both structured and unstructured meshes is presented in this paper. The solution method is the distribution-formula scheme. This is an explicit, cell-vertex, finite volume method which is essentially second-order accurate in both space and time. The Euler and Navier-Stokes equations are integrated over each finite volume cell to determine the change in flow properties (e.g. density) for the cell. Distribution formulas are then used to distribute such changes to the surrounding vertices. Increments in each vertex (which is a calculation point) thus consist of contributions from the surrounding cells. The original discretization technique involves central differencing and is simple, robust and computationally efficient. In this work, starting with inviscid flow simulations using the original scheme on structured grids, improvements are subsequently made to the scheme by replacing the central differencing portion with MUSCL type higher-order upwind differencing. Numerical investigations with the improved scheme are performed using inviscid flow simulations on structured grids. Upon establishing improved accuracy, stability and excellent shock capturing properties, further extension to viscous flow computations on unstructured adaptive meshes is implemented. Results are presented for laminar, viscous flow over a NACA 0012 airfoil.