Effect of thickness-to-chord ratio on aerodynamics of non-slender delta wing


Ghazijahani M. S., Yavuz M. M.

AEROSPACE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, vol.88, pp.298-307, 2019 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 88
  • Publication Date: 2019
  • Doi Number: 10.1016/j.ast.2019.03.033
  • Journal Name: AEROSPACE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.298-307
  • Middle East Technical University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

The effect of thickness-to-chord (t/C) ratio on aerodynamics of a non-slender delta wing with sweep angle of 45 degree is characterized in a low-speed wind tunnel using laser illuminated smoke visualization, surface pressure measurements, particle image velocimetry, and force measurements. The delta wings of t/C ratios varying from 2% to 15% with 45 degree windward beveled leading edges are tested. The results indicate that the effect of t/C ratio on flow structure is quite substantial. Considering the low angles of attack where the wings experience leading edge vortex structure, the strength of the vortex structure increases as the t/C ratio increases. However, low t/C ratio wings have pronounced surface separations at higher angle of attack compared to the wings with high t/C ratios. These results are well supported by the force measurements such that high t/C ratio wings induce higher lift coefficients, C-L, at low angles of attack, whereas maximum C-L values are higher and appear at higher angle of attack for low t/C ratio wings. This indicates that low t/C ratio wings are more resistive to the stall condition. Considering the lift-to-drag ratio, C-L/C-D, increase in t/C ratio induces remarkable drop in C-L/C-D values. (C) 2019 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.