Numerical study of vortex-breakdown over a slender wing in transonic flow at high incidence

Abstract

The transonic flowfields and vortex-breakdown over a slender wing with the angle of attack from 10° to 28° are studied numerically, and the emphasis is on the secondary separation and the charateristics of vortex-breakdown. The results indicated that: (a) TVD schemes have strong capability for capturing vortices in three-dimensional transonic separated flow at large angle of attack. (b) The development of secondary vortices is more complex than that of leading-edge ones, and is affected by wing's configuration, angle of attack and compressibility simultaneously, and the effect of compressibility is more severe at low angle of attack. (c) The starting angle of attack for vortex-breakdown (when vortex bursting point crosses trailing-edge) is about 18° forM∞=0.85, then the bursting point moves upstream quickly with increasing angle of attack. (d) At α=24°, breakdown occurs over most part of upper side, and the wing begins to stall. Therefore, there is a large lag of angle of attack between the beginning of vortex-breakdown and the stall of the wing. (e) This lag increase with the decreasing of Mach number.