Analysis of Vortex Dominated Flow over Double Delta Wing

Abstract

The maneuverability of fighter aircraft designed using double delta wing configuration at low subsonic speed in addition to under high angle of attacks are highly appealing and fascinating to comprehend. Flow pattern formed by double delta wing help to facilitate lifting force under high angle of attack and at such low subsonic speed. In comparison to delta wing, vortex formations by strake part of wing play an important role to create a persistent vortex core capable of delaying stalling. In this investigation, force coefficients of 75°/45° double delta wing configuration is extracted both from wing tunnel experiment and numerical calculation between 0° to 30° angles of attack at Reynolds number of 1.4 × 105 based on root chord length. It has also been attempted to investigate the flow pattern formation over wing leeward surface, interaction between vortices formed by strake/wing based on Q-criterion and pressure distribution along propagation path of vortices obtained from CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) calculations. Implications of interplay between vortices and pressure distribution in lift generation have also been analyzed. It has been found that around 15° angle of attack strake and wing vortices merge and gets more intensified. With higher angle of attack the lift generation significantly diminishes because of vortex bursting