DOI: https://doi.org/10.15368/theses.2020.74
Available at: https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/theses/2177
Date of Award
6-2020
Degree Name
MS in Aerospace Engineering
Department/Program
Aerospace Engineering
College
College of Engineering
Advisor
Paulo Iscold
Advisor Department
Aerospace Engineering
Advisor College
College of Engineering
Abstract
A numerical study was conducted to determine the effect of changing the camber of a winglet on the efficiency of a wing in two distinct flight conditions. Camber was altered via a simple plain flap deflection in the winglet, which produced a constant camber change over the winglet span. Hinge points were located at 20%, 50% and 80% of the chord and the trailing edge was deflected between -5° and +5°. Analysis was performed using a combination of three-dimensional vortex lattice method and two-dimensional panel method to obtain aerodynamic forces for the entire wing, based on different winglet camber configurations. This method was validated against high-fidelity steady Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes simulations to determine the accuracy of these methods. It was determined that any winglet flap deflections increased induced drag and parasitic drag, thus decreasing efficiency for steady level flight conditions. Positive winglet flap deflection at higher lift conditions may increase efficiency, but the validity of the vortex lattice method results for these conditions are dubious. A high-fidelity method should be used for the high lift condition to obtain accurate efficiency data.
Included in
Aerodynamics and Fluid Mechanics Commons, Aeronautical Vehicles Commons, Analysis Commons, Fluid Dynamics Commons, Numerical Analysis and Computation Commons