Aerodynamic investigation of twist angle variation based on wing smarting for a flying wing

Abstract

In this paper, the effects of twist angle variation on aerodynamic coefficients and flow field on the wing with wing smarting approach are studied using numerical simulation. The simulation was performed using incompressible Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations based on the two-equation k-ω Shear Stress Transport (SST) turbulent model for flow speed 30 m/s and a Reynolds number of 69000. Investigations have been carried out for several twist angles and at a specific range of angles of attack. The twist applied is the type of geometric twist (wash-out), which is linearly distributed along the span. The test case is a lambda-shaped tailless aircraft with a wing fracture on the trailing edge, and a sweep angle 56°. The results show that with increasing twist angle, the aerodynamic efficiency improves over a wide range of angles of attack, but at 0° angle of attack it will decrease significantly. By increasing the angle of attack, the effect of twist on the flow field and aerodynamic coefficients will gradually decrease; hence, at a certain amount of angle of attack, the effect of twist will stop, that angle is called the neutral brink angle. Longitudinal stability analysis shows that by growing the twist angle, the conditions required for longitudinal stability are satisfied, and the pitch-up phenomenon will be delayed.