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The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of spanwise shape of the leading edge on unsteady aerodynamic characteristics of wings during forward flapping and gliding flight.

A computational fluid dynamics approach was conducted to analyze the flow around airfoils with sinusoidal‐like protuberances at a Reynolds number of 10⁴. Three‐dimensional time‐dependent incompressible Navier‐Stokes equations are numerically solved by using finite volume method. A multigrid mesh method, which was applied to the situation of fluid across the heaving models is used to simulate this type of flow. The simulations are performed for the wavelength between neighbouring peaks of 0.25c and 0.5c. For each wavelength, two heights of the tubercles which are 5 per cent and 10 per cent of the chordwise length of wing, are employed on the leading edge of wings. The aerodynamic forces and flow structure around airfoils are presented and compared in detail. Special attention is paid to investigate the effect of leading‐edge shape on the fluid dynamic forces.

Present results reveal that the wings with leading‐edge tubercles have an aerodynamic advantage during gliding flight and also have the potential advantages during flapping forward flight.

On the basis of computational study, an improved scenario for flapping wing microaviation vehicle has been originally proposed.

Development of the Lockheed supersonic transport has followed the basic philosophy that an advance in air travel in terms of speed and economics should be accompanied by similar advances in aeroplane safety and flying qualities. To achieve these objectives, Lockheed's SST design work has been concentrated for many years on the development of a fixed‐wing design. The present configuration—called a double delta—provides a simple high lift system with low wing loading, excellent low speed stability and control, and large favourable ground effects in landing, with inherent advances in operational simplicity and safety.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the aerodynamic characteristics of a low-to-moderate-aspect-ratio, tapered, untwisted, unswept wing, equipped of sheared wing tips.

In this work, wind tunnel tests were made to study the influence in aerodynamic characteristics over a typical low-to-moderate-aspect-ratio wing of a general aviation aircraft, equipped with sheared – swept and tapered planar – wing tips. An experimental parametric study of different wing tips was tested. Variations in its leading and trailing edge sweep angle as well as variations in wing tip taper ratio were considered. Sheared wing tips modify the flow pattern in the outboard region of the wing producing a vortex flow at the wing tip leading edge, enhancing lift at high angles of attack.

The induced drag is responsible for nearly 50% of aircraft total drag and can be reduced through modifications to the wing tip. Some wing tip models present complex geometries and many of them present benefits in particular flight conditions. Results have demonstrated that sweeping the wing tip leading edge between 60 and 65 degrees offers an increment in wing aerodynamic efficiency, especially at high lift conditions. However, results have demonstrated that moderate wing tip taper ratio (0.50) has better aerodynamic benefits than highly tapered wing tips (from 0.25 to 0.15), even with little less wing tip leading edge sweep angle (from 57 to 62 degrees). The moderate wing tip taper ratio (0.50) offers more wing area and wing span than the wings with highly tapered wing tips, for the same aspect ratio wing.

Although many studies have been reported on the aerodynamics of wing tips, most of them presented complex non-planar geometries and were developed for cruise flight in high subsonic regime (low lift coefficient). In this work, an exploration and parametric study through wind tunnel tests were made, to evaluate the influence in aerodynamic characteristics of a low-to-moderate-aspect-ratio, tapered, untwisted, unswept wing, equipped of sheared wing tips (wing tips highly swept and tapered).

In this article the requirement leading to the design is discussed and this is followed by a general description of the aircraft and its operating efficiency. The accommodation is described, with particular reference to the flight deck and equipment. The various systems and installations are next reviewed; followed by a detailed description of the various structural components, which, in many cases, have been designed round these systems. The development work that has been done in order to allow design and construction to be completed will be described in some detail in a later article.

In this paper, experimental and numerical results of a lambda wing have been compared. The purpose of this paper is to study the behaviour of lambda wings using a CFD tool and to consider different numerical models to obtain the most accurate results. As far as the consideration of numerical methods is concerned, the main focus is on the evaluation of computational methods for an accurate prediction of contingent leading edge vortices’ path and the flow separation occurring because of the burst of these vortices on the wing.

Experimental tests are performed in a closed-circuit wind tunnel at the Reynolds number of 6 × 105 and angles of attack (AOA) ranging from 0 to 10 degrees. Investigated turbulence models in this study are Reynolds Averaged Navior–Stokes (RANS) models in a steady state. To compare the accuracy of the turbulence models with respect to experimental results, sensitivity study of these models has been plotted in bar charts.

The results illustrate that the leading edge vortex on this lambda wing is unstable and disappears soon. The effect of this disappearance is obvious by an increase in local drag coefficient in the junction of inner and outer wings. Streamlines on the upper surface of the wing show that at AOA higher than 8 degrees, the absence of an intense leading edge vortex leads to a local flow separation on the outer wing and a reverse in the flow.

Results obtained from the behaviour study of transition (TSS) turbulence model are more compatible with experimental findings. This model predicts the drag coefficient of the wing with the highest accuracy. Of all considered turbulence models, the Spalart model was not able to accurately predict the non-linearity of drag and pitching moment coefficients. Except for the TSS turbulence model, all other models are unable to predict the aerodynamic coefficients corresponding to AOA higher than 10 degrees.

The presented results in this paper include lift, drag and pitching moment coefficients in various AOA and also the distribution of aerodynamic coefficients along the span.

The presented results include lift, drag and pitching moment coefficients in various AOA and also aerodynamic coefficients distribution along the span.

The purpose of this paper is to describe the pre‐design and sizing of a smart leading edge section which is developed in the project SADE (Smart High Lift Devices for Next Generation Wings), which is part of the seventh framework program of the EU.

The development of morphing technologies in SADE concentrates on the leading and trailing edge high‐lift devices. At the leading edge a smart gap and step‐less droop nose device is developed. For the landing flap a smart trailing edge of the flap is in the focus of the research activities. The main path in SADE follows the development of the leading edge section and the subsequent wind tunnel testing of a five meter span full‐scale section with a chord length of three meters in the wind tunnel T‐101 at the Russian central aero‐hydrodynamic institute (TsAGI) in Moscow.

The presented paper gives an overview over the desired performance and requirements of a smart leading edge device, its aerodynamic design for the wind tunnel tests and the structural pre‐design and sizing of the full‐scale leading edge section which will be tested in the wind tunnel.

SADE aims at a major step forward in the development and evaluation of the potential of morphing airframe technologies.

An aircraft has a lifting surface with a slotted formation in the leading edge, and means for discharging compressed air forwardly through the formation and for varying the ultimate direction or thrust of the discharge to vary the lift coefficient of the surface. In the embodiments described, the aircraft is of isosceles triangular plan form, with banks of jet engines disposed at each of the trailing base angles. Ducts from the engine compressor stages feed wing leading edge slots. As illustrated, two slots are formed between the leading edges of the wing skins 11, 12 and a roller 10a beaked at 16. The discharged gases follow the contour of the roller and beak and the direction of discharge is controlled by rotating the roller. As illustrated, the leading edge is formed by flaps 18 and 19 with sharp edges 20, 21 forming a slot 22. The width of the slot is varied by moving the flaps in opposite directions, varying the thrust and the direction of discharge is varied by moving the flaps in the same sense. As further illustrated, the leading edge of the wing is divided by a partition 26 into compartments 27, 28, having slots 29, 30, respectively. Air at a controllable pressure is blown from one or other slot, depending on the direction of the control force required. Air may be sucked into the unused slot to prevent separation of the airstream at that slot.

The purpose of this exhaustive experimental study is to investigate the fluid-structure interaction in the flexible membrane wings over a range of angles of attack for various Reynolds numbers.

In this paper, an experimental study on fluid-structure interaction of flexible membrane wings was presented at Reynolds numbers of 2.5 × 10⁴, 5 × 10⁴ and 7.5 × 10⁴. In the experimental studies, flow visualization, velocity and deformation measurements for flexible membrane wings were performed by the smoke-wire technique, multichannel constant temperature anemometer and digital image correlation system, respectively. All experimental results were combined and fluid-structure interaction was discussed.

In the flexible wings with the higher aspect ratio, higher vibration modes were noticed because the leading-edge separation was dominant at lower angles of attack. As both Reynolds number and the aspect ratio increased, the maximum membrane deformations increased and the vibrations became visible, secondary vibration modes were observed with growing the leading-edge vortices at moderate angles of attack. Moreover, in the graphs of the spectral analysis of the membrane displacement and the velocity; the dominant frequencies coincided because of the interaction of the flow over the wings and the membrane deformations.

Unlike available literature, obtained results were presented comparatively using the sketches of the smoke-wire photographs with deformation measurement or turbulence statistics from the velocity measurements. In this study, fluid-structure interaction and leading-edge vortices of membrane wings were investigated in detail with increasing both Reynolds number and the aspect ratio.

A routine numerical method of solving integral equations arising in steady supersonic flow past flexible delta wings, with supersonic and subsonic leading edges, is presented. The wing is subdivided into diamond shaped panels, by a network of equi‐spaced Mach lines, and the effect of placing unit downwash at each panel in turn is calculated. The resulting influence function, which has been tabulated, is then formed into the required matrix of influence coefficients. Within the limitations of linearized theory the results are valid for all Mach numbers and mode shapes, including chordwise bending. Although applied here to delta wings the method is equally suited to wings of arbitrary plan form. An aeroelastic efficiency calculation, for a sonic leading edge 45 deg. delta wing of representative torsional stiffness, is included for comparison with strip theory.

The purpose of this paper is to determine thermal behaviour of wing fuel tank wall via heating by external heat sources.

A 3D finite element model of the structure has been created that takes into account convection, conduction and radiation effects. In addition, a 3D finite volume model of the air inside the leading edge is created. Through a computational fluid dynamics approach, the flow of air and thermal behaviour of the air is modelled. The structure and fluid model are coupled via a co-simulation engine to exchange heat flux and temperature. Different ventilation cases of the leading edge and their impact on the thermal behaviour of the tank wall (corresponding to the front spar) are investigated.

Results of 3D analysis illustrate good insight into the thermal behaviour of the tank wall. Furthermore, if regions exist in the leading edge that differs significantly from the overall thermal picture of the leading edge, these are visible in a 3D analysis. Finally, the models can be used to support a flammability analysis assessment.

Provided that the bleed pipe is located far enough from the spar and covered with sufficient thermal heat isolation, the composite leading edge structure will not reach extremely high temperatures.

These detailed simulations provide accurate results which can be used as reliable input for the fuel tank flammability analysis.