Numerical Study of Wing Aerodynamics in Ground Proximity

Abstract

Experimental design and optimization of innovative ground-effect transportation means is an iterative process which requires a large amount of time and resources. To avoid the large experimental expense, numerical modeling can be used to investigate Wing-in-Ground (WIG) vehicle flight. In this paper, modeling technique is applied for a two dimensional NACA 4412 airfoil in viscous flow in and out of ground effect. The numerical method consists of a steady state, incompressible, finite volume method utilizing the Spalart-Allmaras turbulence model. Grid generation and solution of the Navier-Stokes equations are completed using FLUENT 6.3. The modeling procedures are first validated against published experimental data for unbounded flow around an airfoil. Wing section aerodynamic characteristics are then studied for varying ground heights and two separate boundary conditions: fixed ground and moving ground. Ground effect calculations are compared to several previous studies, and our results are found to correlate with published aerodynamic trends in ground effect, although all studies appear to predict different magnitudes of aerodynamic forces.

Investigation on application of high-lift configuration to wing-in-ground effect

“…A number of attempts have been made to reveal the mechanism of ground effect. Numerical studies by Yang and Yang [5] and Ockfen and Matveev [6] present some general features of ground effect. Effects of ground clearances and incidences were investigated in these studies.…”

Model Building And Testing As An Undergraduate Research Approach To Advancing Air Assisted Marine Vehicle Technology

“…The current and near-future activities include (1) installation of remote data acquisition systems for gathering time-resolved data on models in high-speed motion, (2) testing models with multi-component force balance systems, (3) utilization of hydrodynamic flumes for water-based laboratory experiments, and (4) interrelation of experimental work with Computational Fluid Dynamics studies conducted by graduate students in our group. 11 More distant plans involve using fuel cells as power sources for our models and building manned vehicle prototypes.…”