Abstract: A method for generating t here-dimensional mix ed-element-t ype unstructured gr ids and its applicat ion insimulating v iscous flow by solv ing the Nav ier-Sto kes equations are presented. Pir zadeh s advancing-layer method ismodified to generate hig h-quality mix ed prismatic/ pyramid/ tetrahedral-element-type unstructur ed gr ids in boundary-lay er reg ion, and the tr aditional advancing-front method is used to construct isotropic tetrahedral grids in ther esidual flow region. Based on the Spalart-Allmaras one equat ion turbulence model, three-dimensional Navier-Stokesequat ions are solv ed by using a cell-centered finite-volume method. Viscous flow problems around the ONERA M6w ing, DLR-F4 w ing-body config uration and a transport configuration ar e simulated to verify the correctness andpract icability of the methods.

Key words: mixed element, finite-volume method, Navier-Stokes equations, unstructured meshes