Numerical Analysis of Boundary-Layer Transition on a High-Aspect Ratio Backward-Swept Laminar Wing Considering Different Mass Cases

Abstract

Some of the biggest challenges facing the aircraft industry today are the growth of air travel and climate change. New technologies in aircraft design that aim for efficiency improvements of the aircraft are needed in order to reduce fuel consumption and emissions. One promising way is the application of crossflow attenuated flow (CATNLF) design. It represents a geometric shape optimization of the wing and suppresses the occurrence of crossflow instabilities, particularly on aircraft wings with high leading edge sweep angles. This presentation examines the robustness of an aircraft configuration with CATNLF design to elastic wing deformations considering different mass cases. The bending and torsional deflections of several mass cases in terms of different amounts of fuel and payload are calculated and their impact on the laminar-turbulent transition onset on the upper surface of the wing is studied by means of transitional CFD simulations. It should be assessed whether additional stiffness constraints are needed within the structural optimization process of the aircraft to ensure CATNLF.