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The purpose of this paper is to present the methodology and approach adapted to conduct a wind tunnel experiment on the inverted joined-wing airplane flying model together with the results obtained.

General assumptions underlying the dual-use model design are presented in this paper. The model was supposed to be used for both wind tunnel tests and flight tests that significantly drive its size and internal structure. Wind tunnel tests results compared with the outcome of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) were used to assess airplane flying qualities before the maiden flight was performed.

Extensive data about the aerodynamic characteristics of the airplane were collected. Clean configurations in symmetric and asymmetric cases and also configurations with various control surface deflections were tested.

The data obtained experimentally made it possible to predict the performance and stability properties of the unconventional airplane and to draw conclusions on improvements in further designs of this configuration.

The airplane described in this paper differs from frequently analyzed joined-wing configurations, as it boasts a front lifting surface attached at the top of the fuselage, whereas the aft one is attached at the bottom. The testing technique involving the application of a dual-use model is also innovative.

The simulations of grid-resolved rod vortex generators (RVGs) require high computational cost and time. Additionally, the computational mesh topology must be adjusted to rods geometries. The purpose of this study is to propose the new source term model for RVG.

The model was proposed by modification of Bender, Anderson, Yagle (BAY) model used to predict flows around different type of vortex generators (VGs) – vanes. Original BAY model was built on lifting line theory. The proposed model was implemented in ANSYS Fluent by means of the user-defined function technique. Additional momentum and energy sources are imposed to transport equations.

The computational results of source term model were validated against experimental data and numerical simulation results for grid-resolved rod. It was shown that modified BAY model can be successfully used for RVG in complex cases. An example of BAY model application for RVG on transonic V2C airfoil with strongly oscillating shock waves is presented. Aerodynamic performance predicted numerically by means of both approaches (grid resolved RVG and modeled) is in good agreement, what indicates application opportunity of the proposed model to complex cases.

Modified BAY model can be used to simulate the influence of RVGs in complex real cases. It allows for time/cost reduction if the location or distribution of RVG has to be optimized on a profile, wing or in the channel.

In the paper, the new modification of BAY model was proposed to simulate RVGs. The presented results are innovative because of original approach to model RVGs.