Experimental effects of fuselage camber on longitudinal aerodynamic characteristics of a series of wing-fuselage configurations at a Mach number of 1.41

An experimental investigation was conducted to evaluate a method for the integration of a fighter-type fuselage with a theoretical wing to preserve desirable wing aerodynamic characteristics for efficient maneuvering. The investigation was conducted by using semispan wing fuselage models mounted on a splitter plate. The models were tested through an angle of attack range at a Mach number of 1.41. The wing had a leading edge sweep angle of 50 deg and an aspect ratio of 2.76; the wing camber surface was designed for minimum drag due to lift and was to be self trimming at a lift coefficient of 0.2 and at a Mach number of 1.40. A series of five fuselages of various camber was tested on the wing

Helicopter Fuselage Drag ─ Combined Computational Fluid Dynamics and Experimental Studies

In this paper, wind tunnel experiments are combined with Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) aiming to analyze the aerodynamics of realistic fuselage con¦gurations. A development model of the ANSAT aircraft and an early model of the AKTAI light helicopter were employed. Both models were tested at the subsonic wind tunnel of KNRTU-KAI for a range of Reynolds numbers and pitch and yaw angles. The force balance measurements were complemented by particle image velocimetry (PIV) investigations for the cases where the experimental force measurements showed substantial unsteadiness. The CFD results were found to be in fair agreement with the test data and revealed some §ow separation at the rear of the fuselages. Once con¦dence on the CFD method was established, further modi¦cations were introduced to the ANSAT-like fuselage model to demonstrate drag reduction via small shape changes

Fuselage design for a specified Mach-sliced area distribution

A procedure for designing a fuselage having a prescribed effective area distribution computed from -90 deg Mach slices is described. This type of calculation is an essential tool in designing a complete configuration with an effective area distribution that corresponds to a desired sonic boom signature shape. Sample calculations are given for M=2 and M=3 designs. The examples include fuselages constrained to have circular cross sections and fuselages having cross sections of arbitrary shape. It is found that, for a prescribed effective area distribution having sharp variations, the iterative procedure converges to a smoothed approximation to the prescribed distribution. For a smooth prescribed area distribution, the solution is not unique

ACEE composite structures technology

Toppics addressed include: advanced composites on Boeing commercial aircraft; composite wing durability; damage tolerance technology development; heavily loaded wing panel design; and pressure containment and damage tolerance in fuselages

Characteristics of Flow Past Fuselages and Wing-Fuselage Systems of Gliders

The results are presented for visualization tests and measurements of the velocity field in diffusion regions (with a positive pressure gradient) for fuselages and transition regions between the wing and the fuselage. Wind tunnel and flight tests were performed. Specific emphasis was placed on examining the secondary flow influencing separation acceleration and the influence of the geometrical form of the wing fuselage system manifested by the occurrence of secondary flows of various types

Minimum Vertical Tail Drag

Tail size requirement calculations are presented for a vertical tail performing a coordinated turn reversal at corresponding load requirements with minimum tail drag

The calculation of separated flow at helicopter bodies

For abstract see A81-47555

Studies of noise transmission in advanced composite material structures

Noise characteristics of advanced composite material fuselages were discussed from the standpoints of applicable research programs and noise transmission theory. Experimental verification of the theory was also included

Effects of forebody geometry on subsonic boundary-layer stability

As part of an effort to develop computational techniques for design of natural laminar flow fuselages, a computational study was made of the effect of forebody geometry on laminar boundary layer stability on axisymmetric body shapes. The effects of nose radius on the stability of the incompressible laminar boundary layer was computationally investigated using linear stability theory for body length Reynolds numbers representative of small and medium-sized airplanes. The steepness of the pressure gradient and the value of the minimum pressure (both functions of fineness ratio) govern the stability of laminar flow possible on an axisymmetric body at a given Reynolds number. It was found that to keep the laminar boundary layer stable for extended lengths, it is important to have a small nose radius. However, nose shapes with extremely small nose radii produce large pressure peaks at off-design angles of attack and can produce vortices which would adversely affect transition

Composite fuselage technology

The overall objective is to identify and understand, via directed experimentation and analysis, the mechanisms which control the structural behavior of fuselages in their response to damage (resistance, tolerance, and arrest). A further objective is to develop straightforward design methodologies which can be employed by structural designers in preliminary design stages to make intelligent choices concerning the material, layup, and structural configuration so that a more efficient structure with structural integrity can be designed and built