In this article, the growth of aerodynamic efficiency and the growth of the wing structural stress is studied for DLR-F4 typical transport aircraft wing-body, after installing classical Whitcomb winglets of different configurations and a delta wingtip fence. A new-concept curved-span winglet was mathematically developed and approved through Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and static structural experiments, revealing the interaction of sub- and transonic air flow dynamics with the wingtip device geometry. The design space of the winglet geometry was explored briefly, and an evaluation of the lift-to-drag ratio increment depending on various winglet input parameters was performed. In particular, the winglet cant angle effect on lift and drag was thoroughly analyzed at various flow regimes and angles of attack, revealing an ambiguity and a conflicting character of results between highly canted winglets and nearly vertical ones. As a result of cant angle impact analysis, a curved winglet concept is suggested and mathematically parametrized, that could provide an innovative solution, alternative to a morphing winglet, but much simpler with a fixed structure. In conclusion, a multidisciplinary winglet efficiency estimation criterion is suggested for comparing the aerodynamic efficiency of different wingtip devices with respect to their structural weight penalty in real flight conditions.

This study aimed to explore the directional stability issues of a previously studied light box-wing aircraft model with a pusher propeller engine in the fuselage aft section. Earlier configurations have included the use of fuselage together with a lifting system consisting of two wings joined together at their wingtips with vertical stabilizers. However, these side vertical surfaces failed to provide the aircraft with sufficient directional stability, thus prompting the quest in this study for novel solutions that would exclude the need for a fuselage extension and a typical fin. Solutions included the use of a ducted propeller and few configurations of small “fishtail” vertical fins, which formed part of the aft fuselage itself and coupled with vortex generators on the fuselage surface to improve their interference and heal flow separation at the fuselage aft cone. The results of wind tunnel testing were supported with CFD simulations to explain the flow behavior of each of the studied solutions. Tuft visualization and computed flow patterns allowed identification of the sources of the observed low efficiency in terms of directional stability of the fishtail against a simple idle duct without a propeller. A final configuration with a duct and a modified version of the fuselage fins was achieved that provides enough yaw stability margins for a safe flight.

A mathematical model of the flow of a polyatomic gas containing a combination of the Navier-Stokes-Fourier (NSF) model and the model kinetic equation of polyatomic gases is presented. At the...

A mathematical model of a multicomponent gas flow based on a model kinetic equation is presented. Flows of multicomponent monatomic perfect gases are considered. The model is tested using the example of the problem of the shock wave profile for a mixture of argon and helium in various proportions. It is shown that the model provides satisfactory agreement with the experimental data.

The results of flow field numerical simulation on the typical wing-body prototype of the modern DLR-F4 airliner under sub- and transonic compressible air flow are presented. Using the DLR-F4 CAD...