SESSION 7 - Aerodynamic Simulation through Computational Fluid Dynamics and Wind Tunnel Testing

Mr. Nigel Corby, Business Development Executive

SESSION 7 - Aircraft Research Association Ltd

ARA has for many years advocated the use of both CFD and wind tunnel testing in support of new aircraft projects. CFD can be used to undertake development work associated with novel concepts in the early stages of a research project to optimise the wind tunnel test programmes. ARA also believes that CFD can be used to better understand wind tunnel corrections and support interference. A recent project addressed the concept of rear fuselage mounted engines integrated with an innovative empennage design. It was considered that this type of novel configuration would be outside the current scope of knowledge of wind tunnel support aerodynamic interference effects and so a CFD study was performed to investigate these effects. This was important in order to interpret the wind tunnel test results, including the comparison with CFD, and to understand the need for any wind tunnel data corrections. CFD was used to assess support sting interference through comparison of both surface and field data, the latter in the form of flow conditions at specified positions. This analysis showed that the interference effects of the wind tunnel support system were negligible over the rear fuselage. The wind tunnel test was carried out to determine the aerodynamic performance of the configuration and to validate the numerical simulations. The test technique used for this configuration was the live rear fuselage concept, where the model is supported using a twin sting arrangement, the sting booms being attached to the wings. The paper will describe the CFD analysis and wind tunnel work carried out to analyse the interference effects of the rig on the rear fuselage and empennage. ARA’s long-term vision of the complementary use of CFD and wind tunnel testing will also be discussed.

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