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# Ellipsoid

An ellipsoid with dimensions (semiaxes) $$L\_{x}=2a=8$$m, $$L\_{y}=2b=4$$m, $$L\_{z}=2c=2$$m at an angle of attack of $$\alpha=15$$deg and sideslip angle of $$\beta=10$$deg is considered. The magnitude of the freestream velocity is $$|\mathbf{V}\_{ref}|=1$$m/s. An unstructured mesh of 14924 elements is used. Similarly to the sphere, an analytical solution for the perturbation and total potential around the ellipsoid exists \[1]. The perturbation (doublet) potential is given by:

$$
\phi = \phi\_{x} + \phi\_{y} +\phi\_{z} = xuabc\frac{\alpha\_{\lambda}}{2-\alpha\_{\lambda}} +
yvabc\frac{\beta\_{\lambda}}{2-\beta\_{\lambda}} + zwabc\frac{\gamma\_{\lambda}}{2-\gamma\_{\lambda}}\text{,}
$$

where $$\alpha{\lambda}$$, $$\beta{\lambda}$$ and $$\gamma\_{\lambda}$$ are integrals given by:

$$
\alpha\_{\lambda}=\int\_{\lambda}^{\infty}
\frac{d\lambda}{(a^2+\lambda)\sqrt{(a^2+\lambda)(b^2+\lambda)(c^2+\lambda)}}\\
\beta\_{\lambda}=\int\_{\lambda}^{\infty}
\frac{d\lambda}{(b^2+\lambda)\sqrt{(a^2+\lambda)(b^2+\lambda)(c^2+\lambda)}}\               \gamma\_{\lambda}=\int\_{\lambda}^{\infty}
\frac{d\lambda}{(c^2+\lambda)\sqrt{(a^2+\lambda)(b^2+\lambda)(c^2+\lambda)}}\text{.}
$$

The solution of the $$\alpha{\lambda}$$, $$\beta{\lambda}$$ and $$\gamma{\lambda}$$ integrals is obtained with the aid of the incomplete elliptic integrals as explained in \[2,4]. When the potential is evaluated at the surface of the ellipsoid $$\lambda$$ is set to 0. Numerical values of the incomplete elliptic integrals, along with values of the $$\alpha{\lambda}$$, $$\beta{\lambda}$$, $$\gamma{\lambda}$$ integrals for any combinations of $$a$$, $$b$$, and $$c$$ are given in \[3]. The total potential is given by:

$$
\Phi = \Phi\_{x} + \Phi\_{y} + \Phi\_{z} = (\phi\_{x} + xu) + (\phi\_{y} + yv) + (\phi\_{z} + zw)\text{,}
$$

where $$\Phi$$ is the total potential, $$\phi$$is the perturbation (doublet) potential, $$a$$,$$b$$, and $$c$$ are the semiaxes of the ellipsoid,$$x$$, $$y$$, and $$z$$ are the centroid coordinates of an element on the ellipsoid surface, $$u$$,$$v$$,and $$w$$ are velocity components relative to the ellipsoid. The image blow shows the ellipsoid pressure coefficient.

![](/files/-Mh5DZSyv-25wAafKJ5x)

The images below compare the perturbation potential and the total potential with the analytical solution.

<img src="/files/-Mh5DZSuUV0IW5EgDxjg" alt="" data-size="original"> <img src="/files/-Mh5DZSx2YgNwRKzqigA" alt="" data-size="original">&#x20;

As there is no analytical solution for the pressure coefficient at $$\alpha=15$$deg and $$\beta=10$$deg, the analytical solution for the pressure coefficient at $$\alpha=\beta=0$$deg is compared to the one from a simulation at the same conditions.

<img src="/files/-Mh5D_xg9SKyOEwU1oyg" alt="" data-size="original"> <img src="/files/-Mh5D_xhXzFr0NsRNmEA" alt="" data-size="original">&#x20;

Good agreement between the simulation and the analytical solution is observed.

## Files

{% file src="/files/-MgbFgyzWrOrV5s0RXOH" %}

## References

\[1] Craig, T., "On the Motion of an Ellipsoid in a Fluid", American Journal of Mathematics, Vol.2, No.3, 1879, pp. 260-279\
\[2] Byrd, P.F., "Handbook of Elliptic Integrals for Engineers and Scientists", Springer-Verlag, 1971, pp. 1-7, pp. 8-41\
\[3] Jones, R.T., "Classical Aerodynamic Theory", University Press of the Pacific, 2005\
\[4] Viana, F. and Fuanda, T. and Joseph, D.D. and Tashiro, N. and Sonoda, Y. "Potential flow of a second-order fluid over a tri-axial ellipsoid", J. Appl. Math., Vol.4, 2005, pp. 341-364
