Modelling of Cascade Fin Aerodynamics Near Stall using Kirchhoff's Steady-state Stall Model

Abstract

Nonlinear longitudinal aerodynamics associated with cascade fins at high angles of attack near stall has been modelled using Kirchhoff's formulation. Grid fins are a relatively recent development in guided missile technology. In this paper, a new category of grid fins, nomenclatured as cascade fins, has been proposed. In cascade fin design, an appropriate selection of gap-to-chord ratio and the number of planar members lead to desired stall angle and acceptable overall lift coefficient, respectively. Kirchhoff's steady-state stall model has been validated on wind tunnel data generated for Cascade fins having rectangular airfoil cross-section. National Wind Tunnel Facility (NWTF) of IIT, Kanpur, was used to generate the wind tunnel data consisting of the variation of lift coefficient with angle of attack. The cascade fins were tested to generate the data by varying gap-to-chord ratio and number of planar fins. The cascade fins with rectangular cross-section were tested with and without end plates. Kirchhoff's steady-state stall model was applied to wind tunnel data of cascade fins for modelling flow separation point and maximum likelihood method was used to estimate the parameters characterising stall characteristics. The effects of end plates, variation of number of fins and gap-to-chord ratio on parameter estimation were also studied. It has been observed that Kirchhoff's steady-state stall model could advantageously be applied to model nonlinear aerodynamics associated with cascade fins at high angle of attack. Defence Science Journal, 2011, 61(2), pp.157-164 , DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.14429/dsj.61.481