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At least 199 records · Page 11

A comparison of experimental and numerical results for delta wings with vortex flaps

Computational and experimental results are presented for delta wings with vortex flaps. The wings have an undeflected leading-edge sweep of 75 deg. Flap angles of 5 deg and 10 deg, measured in the streamwise direction, are considered. The nominal angle of attack alpha is varied from 4 deg to 12 deg. Results for freestream Mach numbers of 1.7 and 2.4 are shown. Surface pressure, tuft patterns and vapor screens are given for the experimental data. Surface pressure, tuft patterns, cross-flow velocities, total pressure loss and cross-flow Mach number are given for the numerical data. C(l)-vs-alpha curves are shown for experimental and computational results. The flows are shown to be very sensitive to angle of attack, and the agreement between experimental and theoretical results is improved if the calculations are made at angles of attack slightly larger than the experimental angles of attack. The computational model correctly predicts the topology of the flow in each of the cases considered. The lift is predicted well at the higher angles of attack, but slightly overpredicted at the lower angles of attack.

Powell, K. G.↗

Numerical simulation of the effects of variation of angle of attack and sweep angle on vortex breakdown over delta wings

In the present investigation of the vortical flowfield structure over delta wings at high angles of attack, three-dimensional Navier-Stokes numerical simulations were conducted to predict the complex leeward flowfield characteristics; these encompass leading-edge separation, secondary separation, and vortex breakdown. Attention is given to the effect on solution accuracy of circumferential grid-resolution variations in the vicinity of the wing leading edge, and well as to the effect of turbulence modeling on the solutions. When a critical angle-of-attack was reached, bubble-type vortex breakdown was found. With further angle-of-attack increase, a change from bubble-type to spiral-type vortex breakdown was predicted by the numerical solution.

Ekaterinaris, J. A.↗

Numerical study of vortical flow over a sideslipping delta wing

The three-dimensional vortical viscous flow past a sideslipping delta wing at a high angle of attack is numerically investigated. A computational method for calculating low-speed viscous flowfields is developed. The time-iterative method uses an implicit upwind-relaxation finite-difference algorithm with a nonsingular eigensystem to solve the preconditioned, three-dimensional, incompressible Navier-Stokes equations in curvilinear coordinates. An algebraic turbulence model is implemented to account for the eddy viscosity. The technique of local time stepping is incorporated to accelerate the rate of convergence to a steady-state solution. Computed results are compared with experimental data.

Hsu, C.-H.↗

Numerical investigation of the flow over a double delta wing at high incidence

The vortical flowfield over a double-delta wing configuration, consisting of a sharp leading edge 76 deg sweep strake and a 40 deg sweep wing section is investigated. The governing equations are solved numerically with a partially upwind, finite-difference, factorized algorithm. The leeward side vortex system resulting from the strake and wing vortices is investigated for subsonic, high-Reynolds-number flow at various angles of incidence. At low angles of attack the strake and wing vortices remain separate over the wing section, while for flows at higher angles of attack the two vortices merge and vortex breakdown develops. Vortex breakdown appears initially at the trailing edge region of the wing section. As the angle of attack increases bursting occurs further upstream closer to the strake section. The effect of numerical grid density is investigated, and the solutions are compared with available experimental data.

Ekaterinaris, John A.↗

A computational and experimental investigation of a delta wing with vertical tails

The flow over an aspect ratio 1 delta wing with twin vertical tails is studied in a combined computational and experimental investigation. This research is conducted in an effort to understand the vortex and fin interaction process. The computational algorithm used solves both the thin-layer Navier-Stokes and the inviscid Euler equations and utilizes a chimera grid-overlapping technique. The results are compared with data obtained from a detailed experimental investigation. The laminar case presented is for an angle of attack of 20 deg and a Reynolds number of 500,000. Good agreement is observed for the physics of the flow field, as evidenced by comparisons of computational pressure contours with experimental flow-visualization images, as well as by comparisons of vortex-core trajectories. While comparisons of the vorticity magnitudes indicate that the computations underpredict the magnitude in the wing primary-vortex-core region, grid embedding improves the computational prediction.

Krist, Sherrie L.↗

A Computational and Experimental Investigation of a Delta Wing with Vertical Tails

The flow over an aspect ratio 1 delta wing with twin vertical tails is studied in a combined computational and experimental investigation. This research is conducted in an effort to understand the vortex and fin interaction process. The computational algorithm used solves both the thin-layer Navier-Stokes and the inviscid Euler equations and utilizes a chimera grid-overlapping technique. The results are compared with data obtained from a detailed experimental investigation. The laminar case presented is for an angle of attack of 20 and a Reynolds number of 500; 000. Good agreement is observed for the physics of the flow field, as evidenced by comparisons of computational pressure contours with experimental flow-visualization images, as well as by comparisons of vortex-core trajectories. While comparisons of the vorticity magnitudes indicate that the computations underpredict the magnitude in the wing primary-vortex-core region, grid embedding improves the computational prediction.

Krist. Sherrie L.↗

Flowfield in the plane of symmetry below a delta wing

The flowfield in the plane of symmetry of a thin lifting delta wing with supersonic leading edges is examined for wings with apex angles that are comparable to the Mach angle, as well as for the limiting case of a straight leading edge. For these two cases, a simplified treatment of the interaction between the plane expansion wave emanating from the trailing edge and the three-dimensional bow shock is presented. In the region unaffected by the wing tips, the shock decays inversely with distance from the wing.

Cramer, M. S.↗

Subsonic wind-tunnel investigation of leading-edge devices on delta wings (data report)

The drag reduction potential of leading edge devices on delta wings at high lift is presented. Fences, pylon type vortex generators, chordwise slots, and sharp plate extensions were tested on wing models with 60 and 74 degree swept blunt leading edges at angles of attack to 32 degrees. Six component balance and leading edge surface pressure measurements were taken with various geometry and spanwise arrangements of the devices. Tables listing the data, without analysis, are presented.

Dhanvada, M. R.↗

Effect of vertical ejector-jet on the vortex-lift of delta wings

The effect of adding an ejector jet to a 76-deg delta wing was investigated experimentally and theoretically in terms of the resulting longitudinal aerodynamic characteristics. A small-scale wind-tunnel experiment served for the investigation and a simplified vortex lattice model was constructed to simulate the first order effects of this complex flow field. The major benefits of this combined approach over the use of more developed computer schemes lies in the relative ease in tailoring the mathematical model to a new problem. Results of both the wind-tunnel experiment and the theoretical model showed measurable lift loss due to the ejector jet throughout the whole angle-of-attack range, which will intensify at lower flight speeds.

Katz, Joseph↗

Navier-Stokes prediction of large-amplitude delta-wing roll oscillations characterizing wing rock

High-incidence vortical flow about a 65-deg sweep delta wing undergoing static roll and large-amplitude, high-rate-of-roll oscillations is simulated numerically using the time-dependent, three-dimensional, Reynolds-averaged, Navier-Stokes equations. Turbulent computations are presented for static roll angles up through 42 degrees. The effects of roll angle on the vortex aerodynamics are discussed, and the solution accuracy is evaluated by comparison with experimental data. The effects of grid refinement and zonal boundary condition treatment on solution accuracy are assessed at zero roll angle. Numerical simulation of a forced periodic roll motion is also presented.

Chaderjian, Neal M.↗

Control of leading-edge vortices on a delta wing

The unsteady flow structure of leading-edge vortices on a delta wing has been investigated using new types of experimental techniques, in order to provide insight into the consequences of various forms of active control. These investigations involve global control of the entire wing and local control applied at crucial locations on or adjacent to the wing. Transient control having long and short time-scales, relative to the convective time-scale C/U(sub infinity), allows substantial modification of the unsteady and time-mean flow structure. Global control at long time-scale involves pitching the wing at rates an order of magnitude lower than the convective time-scale C/U(sub infinity), but at large amplitudes. The functional form of the pitching maneuver exerts a predominant influence on the trajectory of the feeding sheet, the instantaneous vorticity distribution, and the instantaneous location of vortex breakdown. Global control at short time-scales of the order of the inherent frequency of the shear layer separating from the leading-edge and the natural frequency of vortex breakdown shows that 'resonant' response of the excited shear layer-vortex breakdown system is attainable. The spectral content of the induced disturbance is preserved not only across the entire core of the vortex, but also along the axis of the vortex into the region of vortex breakdown. This unsteady modification results in time-mean alteration of the axial and swirl velocity fields and the location of vortex breakdown. Localized control at long and short time-scales involves application of various transient forms of suction and blowing using small probes upstream and downstream of the location of vortex breakdown, as well as distributed suction and blowing along the leading-edge of the wing applied in a direction tangential to the feeding sheet. These local control techniques can result in substantial alteration of the location of vortex breakdown; in some cases, it is possible to accomplish this without net mass addition to the flow field.

Magness, C.↗

A Flight Investigation of the Low-Speed Handling Qualities of a Tailless Delta-Wing Fighter Airplane

Carrier landing-approach studies of a tailless delta-wing fighter airplane disclosed that approach speeds were limited by ability to control altitude and lateral-directional characteristics. More detailed flight studies of the handling-qualities characteristics of the airplane in the carrier-approach configuration documented a number of factors that contributed to the adverse comments on the lateral-directional characteristics. These were: (1) the tendency of the airplane to roll around the highly inclined longitudinal axis, so that significant sideslip angles developed in the roll as a result only of kinematic effects; (2) reduction of the rolling response to the ailerons because of the large dihedral effect in conjunction with the kinematically developed sideslip angles; and (3) the onset of rudder lock at moderate angles of sideslip at the lowest speeds with wing tanks installed. The first two of the factors listed are inseparably identified with this type of configuration which is being considered for many of the newer designs and may, therefore, represent a problem which will be encountered frequently in the future. The results are of added significance in the demonstration of a typical situation in which extraneous factors occupy so much of the pilot's attention that his capability of coping with the problems of precise flight-path control is reduced, and he accordingly demands a greater speed margin above the stall to allow for airspeed fluctuations.

White, Maurice D.↗

An evaluation of leading-edge flap performance on delta and double-delta wings at supersonic speeds

The aerodynamic performance of leading-edge flaps on three delta double-delta wing planforms having aspect ratios of 1.75, 2.11, and 2.50, have been investigated experimentally. The wings were mounted on a generic fuselage without an inlet canopy, or a vertical tail. The Mach numbers of the flow over the wings were 1.60, 1.90 and 2.16. A primary set of full-span leading-edge flaps with similar root and tip chords were tested on each wing, and several alternate flap planforms were tested on the aspect ratio 1.75 wings. It is found that all leading edge geometries were effective in reducing drag lifting over the range of wing aspect ratios and Mach numbers tested. Greater flap performance was obtained when primary flaps were applied to the delta planform. In general, the primary flap geometry yielded better performance than the alternative geometries tested. Flow visualization techniques were found to be useful for identifying the beneficial effects of leading-edge flap deflection on flow separation as well as fuselage interference effects. Black and white photographs of the delta and double-delta planforms are provided.

Covell, P. F.↗