Thin weakly curved wings with maximum aerodynamic quality

Abstract

Lifting wings that only slightly disturb the supersonic gas flow are considered. The plan shape and thickness distribution of the wing and the free-stream parameters are given. The flow problem is solved within the framework of the Prandtl model. The outer potential flow is determined in accordance with the linear theory. The turbulent boundary layer is found by the method of plane sections with allowance for the three-dimensional inviscid flow pattern. A numerical model of the flow is constructed in the class of piecewise-constant functions on characteristic calculation grids [1]. The variational problem of finding the weakly curved middle surface of the wing giving maximum aerodynamic quality is reduced, by analogy with [2], to a problem of nonlinear programming and is solved by the gradient projection method.