Recent advances in lifting surface methods

AbstractRecent advances in two lifting surface methods are reported. The present subsonic constant pressure method improves upon the program robustness of the doublet lattice method. The present unified supersonic-hypersonic method extends the range of applicability of lifting surface theory to the Newtonian limit. Based on a uniformly-valid series formulation, the method accurately approximates the non-linear thickness effect, whereas this effect is neglected by the linear theory and overestimated by piston theory. In fact, the present results generally agree well with the trends of several Euler solutions. Among other findings, cases computed by the unified method confirm that the effect of thickness is to reduce the supersonic flutter speed.</jats:p