Analysis of Aircraft Hydraulic Filter Flow: Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulation Using SimFlow 4.0

Hydraulic systems are critical to the performance and reliability of various aircraft and machine operations, such as landing gear, brake systems, and control surfaces. Understanding the flow properties of hydraulic circuits is essential to optimize these systems. This study aims to analyze an aircraft hydraulic filter's performance using SimFlow and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), focusing on mesh resolution and inlet velocity influence to predict pressure and velocity accurately. A comprehensive three-dimensional filter model is developed, and meshing is conducted at different resolutions. The flow is then modeled using the k-ω SST turbulence model within the Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) framework, considering fully turbulent, incompressible, and steady-state flow conditions. The findings are expected to show that finer mesh resolutions yield more precise predictions of pressure drops and flow distributions within the filter. As mesh density increases, the variance in maximum pressure and velocity values is anticipated to decrease, leading to more consistent simulation outcomes. This research provides insights into optimal meshing strategies for accurate CFD analysis of hydraulic filters, emphasizing the importance of careful mesh selection in achieving reliable simulation results. The results have practical implications for designing and optimizing more efficient hydraulic systems. Future work should focus on attaining mesh independence, simulating transient flows, and cross-validating the findings with experimental data.