Transonic lifting line theory - Numerical procedure for shock-free flows

Abstract

An algorithm for computing transonic lifting-line theory without shocks is presented; the numerical procedure relies on two-dimensional analyses developed to solve inviscid flow equations for slender airfoils. From a series of solutions to two-dimensional problems in which span effects appear parametrically, the three-dimensional potential field characterization is obtained. Numerical results are given for a lifting wing with an elliptic (spanwise) distribution of chord and a NACA-0012 cross section (a freestream Mach number of 0.63 and an angle of attack of 2 deg are assumed).