Experimental and numerical investigations were conducted to identify the wake characteristics downstream of two vanetype vortex generators over laminar flat plate boundary layer. Experimental study was carried out by using the stereoscopic particle image velocimetry. To describe the flow field around the vortex generator in detail, numerical study was performed. We considered two different planform shapes of vortex generator: triangular and rectangular shape. The height of the generator was chosen to be about the boundary layer thickness at the position of its installation. Two different lengths of the generator were chosen: two and five times the height. Wake measurements were carried out at three angles of attack for each configuration. Wake characteristics for each case such as overall vortical structure, vorticity distribution, and location of vortex center with downstream distance were obtained from the PIV data. Wake characteristics, as expected, were found to vary strongly with the geometry and angle of attack so that no general tendency could be deduced. Causes of this irregular tendency were explained by using the results of the numerical simulation.

A numerical simulation for a nonslender BWB UCAV configuration with a rounded leading edge and span of 1.0 m was performed to analyze its aerodynamic characteristics. Numerical results were compared with experimental data obtained at a free stream velocity of 50 m/s and at angles of attack from -4 to 26°. The Reynolds number, based on the mean chord length, is 1.25×106. 3D multi-block hexahedral grids are used to guarantee good grid quality and to efficiently resolve the boundary layer. Menter's shear stress transport model and two transition models (γ-Reθ model and γ model) were used to assess the effect of the laminar/turbulent transition on the flow characteristics. Aerodynamic coefficients, such as drag, lift, and the pitching moment, were compared with experimental data. Drag and lift coefficients of the UCAV were predicted well while the pitching moment coefficient was underpredicted at high angles of attack and influenced strongly by the selected turbulent models. After assessing the pressure distribution, skin friction lines and velocity field around UCAV configuration, it was found that the transition effect should be considered in the prediction of aerodynamic characteristics of vortical flow fields.

In this study, we conducted numerical simulations for a nonslender BWB type planform with a rounded leading edge and span of 2.0 m to analyze the effect of the sideslip angle on the planform at a freestream velocity of 60 m/s. The Reynolds number based on the mean chord length was 2.9×106, and we considered the angle of attack ranging from -4° to 16° and sideslip angles up to 20°. We used an unstructured mesh with a prism layer for the boundary layer with 1.11×107 grid points, and the k−ω SST turbulence model. We analyzed force and moment coefficients with respect to variation of angle of attack and sideslip angles. Side force and rolling/yawing moment coefficients had highly nonlinear relationships with the sideslip angle while lift and drag coefficients were not significantly affected. We interpreted the mechanism of these aerodynamic characteristics based on pressure and skin friction contours. Suction pressure near the leading edge had a marked effect on the pitching and rolling moment. We identified five flow types on the blunt leading edge swept wing by skin friction lines and off-body streamlines at a high angle of attack and sideslip angles.

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