Numerical Analysis of Transport Aircraft using different Wing Tip Devices

Abstract

Numerical solutions of the Navier-Stokes equations for a modern transport configuration with three different wing tip devices are presented. Solutions are obtained at high speed for the cruise configuration and at low speed for the corresponding take-off configuration. This study is performed within the European Union project M-DAW (Modelling and Design of Advanced Wing Tip Devices). The numerical results are analysed to characterise the function and performance of the wing tip devices using relevant pressure distributions, local distributions of force and moment, surface contours and skin friction lines. In addition in the case of take-off case vortex wake was analysed in the nearfield tip. Numerical results are compared with experimental data obtained in cryogenic wind tunnel tests at high speed in the ETW (European Transonic Wind Tunnel) and at low speed in the DNW-KKK (Cryogenic Wind Tunnel Cologne).