Low Speed Experimental and Numerical Investigations on Unconventional Control Concepts for Agile and Highly Swept Aircraft Configurations

Abstract

Various unconventional control concepts are considered for placement on the SACCON aircraft. The scaled-down DLR-F17E model is used as the numerical and experimental vehicle. The first category of control concepts is motivated by the desire to improve aircraft stability and control while maintaining a clean signature from ground-based sensors. The second category is motivated by the promise of smooth surface deformations eliminating control surface gaps. Each concept is studied at Re = 762,000 and U∞ = 52m/s using the DLR TAU code with the intention of verifying results through a test campaign in the low speed 1 Meter Tunnel, Göttingen. Only a limited number of control concepts were built and tested in the wind tunnel, and their results are compared with the CFD results to highlight differences in the methods. The CFD results for each concept are presented and their merits are discussed.