Experimental and Computational Analysis of Model–Support Interference in Low-Speed Wind-Tunnel Testing of Fuselage-Boundary-Layer Ingestion

Abstract

Junction flow caused by the aerodynamic interaction between a wind-tunnel model and the support structure can largely influence the flowfield and hence the experimental results. This paper discusses a combined numerical and experimental study which was carried out to mitigate the model–support interference in a wind-tunnel test setup for the study of fuselage boundary-layer ingestion. The setup featured an axisymmetric fuselage mounted through a support beam, covered by a wing-shaped fairing. The junction flow appearing at the fuselage–fairing connection produced undesired flow distortions at the fuselage aft section, due to the formation of an horseshoe vortex structure at the fairing leading edge. Numerical and experimental analysis were performed with the aim of reducing the distortion intensity by improving the fairing design. Results show that modifying the leading-edge shape of the fairing effectively decreased the flowfield distortions. Moreover, the addition of a dummy fairing diametrically opposed to the first one was found to be beneficial due to the enhancement of the configuration symmetry.

Power Balance Analysis Experiments on an Axisymmetric Fuselage with an Integrated Boundary-Layer-Ingesting Fan

“…The bottom fairing did not have any structural function and was employed to reduce the effects of the fairings on the flowfield around the fuselage aft section. More details of the fairing design were presented in a previous related work [28].…”

A Review of Novel and Non-Conventional Propulsion Integrations for Next-Generation Aircraft

“…The findings underscored the substantial impact of FPR on the required shaft power, revealing that a 10% reduction in FPR resulted in a remarkable 36% reduction in shaft power. On the other hand, a series of experimental studies confirmed preliminary simulations of this PFC aircraft [215][216][217]. Particle image velocimetry techniques were employed to investigate the main aerodynamic phenomena, and the power balance method was employed to evaluate the aerodynamic and propulsive forces.…”

Recent Advances in Boundary Layer Ingestion Technology of Evolving Powertrain Systems

“…Additionally, aerodynamic forces analysis based on power balance method [21] was conducted. The simplified PFC model geometry was based on the study performed by Della Corte et al [137] that focused on the optimization of the PFC fuselage and its structure support within the wind tunnel facility. The BLI propulsor was sized to ensure aerodynamic similarity with the CENTRELINE full-scale fan developed by Castillo Pardo and Hall [23].…”