Entropy-based detached-eddy simulation of the airwake over a simple frigate shape

The wind past the ship superstructure produces an unsteady turbulent airwake which has a significant effect on aircraft performance and consequently pilot workload during ship landing process. Computational fluid dynamics simulations of a generic simple frigate shape ship airwake have been performed using the entropy-based detached-eddy simulation method. The results were compared with the steady-state Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes calculations and the wind tunnel data, indicating the capability of entropy-based detached-eddy simulation to resolve the unsteady large-scale turbulent features. An analysis of the airwake flow topology at headwind condition highlights the vortex pairing process which dominates the flowfield above the deck. Additionally, the influence of hangar-door state (open, closed or half-open) on the airwake was also investigated in detail. Determination of this complex flow can assist in the definition of safe ship-helicopter operating limits and future ship design.