Open Skies Project Computational Fluid Dynamic Analysis

A Computational Fluid Dynamic CFD analysis has been performed on a WC-135B aircraft that has been modified at Wright-Patterson AFB WPAFB forming the first Open Skies aircraft designated OC-135B. The studies included the use of panel method, full potential, and Navier-Stokes methods utilizing 2-D axisymmetric, and 3-D. While providing information useful to the Open Skies program, the studies also provide a good example of how lower order and higher order computational aerodynamic methods can be used together to obtain the maximum benefit from CFD at a minimum cost. Flight test tufting and accelerometer data confirmed the results of the 3-D Full Navier-Stokes results.