Computational Investigation of a Novel Box-Wing Aircraft Concept

With regard to the current needs for greener aviation, this study focuses on a novel concept of Box-Wing Aircraft (BWA). Labelled SmartLiner (BWA/SL), this conceptual aircraft comes as a triplane comprising backward and forward swept wings. The aerodynamic performance and structural characteristics of this BWA/SL aircraft are here explored through numerical simulation, using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI). The computational approach is first validated using NASA’s Common Research Model (CRM) aircraft, which is then taken as a reference solution against which to compare the aero-structural merits of the BWA/SL concept. Results show that, although its design is still preliminary and lacks optimization, the BWA/SL aircraft exhibits very decent aerodynamic performance, with higher lifting capacities and a reasonable lift-to-drag ratio. Moreover, thanks to the closed frame of its peculiar planform, it demonstrates superior structural characteristics, including under extreme loading scenarios. Based on this preliminary analysis and considering the room left for its further optimization, this conceptual aircraft thus appears as a potentially promising alternative for the development of more environmentally friendly airliners.

Computational analysis and design of an aerofoil with morphing tail for improved aerodynamic performance in transonic regime

This article focuses on the aerodynamic design of a morphing aerofoil at cruise conditions using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The morphing aerofoil has been analysed at a Mach number of 0.8 and Reynolds number of $3 \times 10^{6}$ , which represents the transonic cruise speed of a commercial aircraft. In this research, the NACA0012 aerofoil has been identified as the baseline aerofoil where the analysis has been performed under steady conditions at a range of angles of attack between $0^{^{\kern1pt\circ}}$ and $3.86^{^{\kern1pt\circ}}$ . The performance of the baseline case has been compared to the morphing aerofoil for different morphing deflections ( $w_{te}/c = [0.005 - 0.1]$ ) and start of the morphing locations ( $x_{s}/c = [0.65 - 0.80]$ ). Further, the location of the shock wave on the upper surface has also been investigated due to concerns about the structural integrity of the morphing part of the aerofoil. Based upon this investigation, a most favourable morphed geometry has been presented that offers both, a significant increase in the lift-to-drag ratio against its un-morphed counterpart and has a shock location upstream of the start of the morphing part.

IMPLEMENTATION OF TRANSONIC AREA RULE AND SWEPT BACK DELTA WING DESIGN ON AN AIRCRAFT.

The transonic area rule was first implemented in the 1950s. It is an important concept related to the drag on an aircraft or other body in transonic and supersonic flight which states that two airplanes with the same longitudinal cross-sectional area distribution have the same wave drag, independent of how the area is distributed laterally. A swept back delta wing increases the critical Mach number of the wing and performs well at low speeds, as a result of unique swirling vortices that form on the upper surface of the wing. BOOM Supersonic plans to bring back Supersonic Commercial aircrafts by implementing these modifications in the famous Concorde. In this paper two aircraft designs inspired by Concorde and BOOM Overture are compared using ANSYS Fluent. These were designed in CATIA with changes in fuselage dimensions, wing configuration and engine configuration. The lift to drag ratio of both the designs are calculated and compared. Pressure contours, velocity vectors, vector pathlines, turbulence pathlines and pressure pathlines are also compared. The results show that the design with the implementation of transonic area rule and swept back delta wing has a better Lift to Drag ratio when compared to the design with a wide fuselage and a delta wing design.

Multi-objective aerodynamic optimization design of variable camber leading and trailing edge of airfoil

Variable camber is an effective method for improving the flight efficiency of large aircraft, and has attracted the attention of researchers. This work focused on the optimization of a variable camber airfoil. First, the influences of the variable camber of the leading and trailing edges on the airfoil aerodynamic performance were investigated using a computational fluid dynamics numerical simulation. An initial database was established for a deep neural network. Second, an iterative algorithm was constructed to optimize the variable camber airfoil in terms of the rotation angle of the leading edge, deflection position of the leading edge, rotation angle of the trailing edge, and deflection position of the trailing edge. A genetic algorithm was used in each iteration to maximize the lift coefficient and lift-to-drag ratio, as predicted using a deep neural network (DNN). The optimal results were validated using Fluent. If the DNN result approximated the Fluent results, the iterative process was stopped. Otherwise, the Fluent results were inserted into the database to update the DNN prediction model. The optimization results showed that the lift-to-drag ratio of the 2D airfoil could be increased by more than 14 when the angle of attack was less than 8° relative to the original airfoil. Furthermore, to validate the 2D optimal results, the optimized 2D airfoil was stretched into 3D, and it was discovered that the aerodynamic performance trend of the 3D airfoil with respect to the angle of attack was basically the same as that of the 2D airfoil. In addition, the corresponding 3D airfoil improved the aerodynamic performance and reduced the noise at a high frequency (by approximately 16 dB). In contrast, the noise in the low and medium frequencies remained unchanged. Therefore, the optimization method and results can provide a reference for the aerodynamic design and acoustic design of large civil aircraft wings.

Control of shock-induced vortex breakdown on a delta-wing-body configuration in the transonic regime

Shock-induced vortex breakdown, which occurs on the delta wings at transonic speed, causes a sudden and significant change in the aerodynamic coefficients at a moderate angle-of-attack. Wind-tunnel tests show a sudden jump in the aerodynamic coefficients such as lift force, pitching moment and centre of pressure which affect the longitudinal stability and controllability of the vehicle. A pneumatic jet operated at sonic condition blown spanwise and along the vortex core over a 60° swept delta-wing-body configuration is found to be effective in postponing this phenomenon by energising the vortical structure, pushing the vortex breakdown location downstream. The study reports that a modest level of spanwise blowing enhances the lift by about 6 to 9% and lift-to-drag ratio by about 4 to 9%, depending on the free-stream transonic Mach number, and extends the usable angle-of-attack range by 2°. The blowing is found to reduce the magnitude of unsteady pressure fluctuations by 8% to 20% in the aft portion of the wing, depending upon the method of blowing. Detailed investigations carried out on the location of blowing reveal that the blowing close to the apex of the wing maximises the benefits.

ОЦІНКА ВПЛИВУ ЦЕНТРУВАННЯ НА АЕРОДИНАМІЧНУ ЯКІСТЬ, ПОЛЯРУ І ДАЛЬНІСТЬ ПОЛЬОТУ ЛІТАКА

The method of transport category airplane flight range estimation taking into account its center-of-gravity position variation in the process of fuel utilization at cruising flight mode is presented. The method structure includes the following models:– Interinfluence of main parameters on each other in the process of fuel utilization;– Estimation of CG position influence on lift-to-drag ratio in cruising mode;– Quantitative estimation of center-of-gravity position variation influence on airplane flight range.Simulation of the main parameters is based on authoring researches, establishing interinfluence among geometrical and aerodynamic parameters of wing, parameters of horizontal tail and center-of-gravity position variation caused by fuel utilization in cruise flight. Such model allows estimating airplane center-of-gravity influence on their values and relative position.Aerodynamic parameters variation caused by center-of-gravity shift resulted in necessity to take the influence into account, for required engine thrust variation; that is shown in the publication in the form of dependences allowing to take into account the required thrust variation and their influence on range variation.On the base of interinfluence model and taking into account required thrust variation (with center-of-gravity position shift), lift-to-drag variation has been obtained and analyzed in the form of dependences , for middle airplane of transport category.Expression for estimation of airplane flight range under variable values of its mass and center-of-gravity position is obtained on the base of these models; that allows to increase flight range by means of center-of-gravity position dedicated shift.On the example of mid-range transport airplane, it is shown, that at Mach number and center-of-gravity shift back from to , the increase of flight range makes .On the base of presented models, it is shown, that airplane center-of-gravity position influences lift-to-drag ratio, fuel efficiency and as a result on flight range at cruising flight mode.Application of aft center-of-gravity position allows to decrease engine required thrust (and to decrease fuel consumption), and increase lift-to-drag ratio and airplane flight range.

2D numerical investigations derived from a 3D dragonfly wing captured with a high-resolution micro-CT

BACKGROUND: Due to their corrugated profile, dragonfly wings have special aerodynamic characteristics during flying and gliding. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to create a realistic 3D model of a dragonfly wing captured with a high-resolution micro-CT. To represent geometry changes in span and chord length and their aerodynamic effects, numerical investigations are carried out at different wing positions. METHODS: The forewing of a Camacinia gigantea was captured using a micro-CT. After the wing was adapted an error-free 3D model resulted. The wing was cut every 5 mm and 2D numerical analyses were conducted in Fluent® 2020 R2 (ANSYS, Inc., Canonsburg, PA, USA). RESULTS: The highest lift coefficient, as well as the highest lift-to-drag ratio, resulted at 0 mm and an angle of attack (AOA) of 5∘. At AOAs of 10∘ or 15∘, the flow around the wing stalled and a Kármán vortex street behind the wing becomes visible. CONCLUSIONS: The velocity is higher on the upper side of the wing compared to the lower side. The pressure acts vice versa. Due to the recirculation zones that are formed in valleys of the corrugation pattern the wing resembles the form of an airfoil.

Lift and Drag Coefficient Map of NACA4415 Airfoil

The NACA4415 airfoil was numerically simulated with the help of the Fluent software to analyze its aerodynamic characteristics. Results are acquired as follows: The calculation accuracy of Fluent software is much higher than that of XFOIL software; the calculation result of SST k-ω(sstkw) turbulence model is closest to the experimental value; within a certain range, the larger the Reynolds number is, the larger the lift coefficient and lift-to-drag ratio of the airfoil will be, and the smaller the drag coefficient will be; when the angle of attack is less than the optimal angle of attack, the Reynolds number has less influence on the lift-to-drag coefficient and the lift-to-drag ratio; as the Reynolds number increases, the optimal angle of attack increases slightly, and the applicable angle of attack range for high lift-to-drag ratios becomes smaller.

Effects of Pitching Motion Elements on Aerodynamic Characteristics of Airfoil

The aerodynamic characteristics of NACA4412 airfoil with different pitching motion elements were compared and analyzed based on CFD in this research. The results are acquired as follows: the difference between the lift and drag coefficients of the airfoil during pitch up and pitch down motions becomes larger with the increase of the pitching amplitude or initial angle of attack; as the pitching amplitude increases, the lift coefficient grows slightly greater and the drag coefficient grows much greater; as the initial angle of attack increases, the lift coefficient grows much greater and the drag coefficient grows slightly; the smaller the attenuation frequency is, the larger the lift-to-drag ratio of the airfoil will be.