Modelling and design of wing tip devices at various flight conditions using a databased aerodynamic prediction tool

A design study of wing tip devices at high and low speeds is described. The basis of the design study is an equivalent drag approach containing both aerodynamic drag gain and structural weight penalty. A comprehensive parameter study is carried out using a rapid aerodynamic prediction tool named Lift and Drag Component Analysis (LIDCA). Adding to an available lifting-line method a databased module for airfoil data is employed that uses results of two-dimensional flow simulations by multidimensional interpolation. Detailed validation studies of the method at high lift and high speed have demonstrated good accuracy. RANS computations of the selected wing tip designs confirm the predicted benefits at cruise condition. The results of the most effective wing tip designs are analysed at both flight conditions. Finally, options for improving the performance at take-off are suggested.     

Simulation of streamwise vortices at the flaps of re-entry vehicles

The present study investigates separated flows in the flap region of the X-38 re-entry demonstrator with respect to the heat loads downstream reattachment induced by streamwise vortices. In a first step generic numerical flow simulations of turbulent ramp configurations with artificially induced vortex disturbances are compared with wind tunnel data of the Ludwieg tube facility in Göttingen (RWG). The results allow insight into the perturbed flow field, the associated flow topology and the influence of different flow parameters that affect the perturbations. For numerical resolution of streamwise vortices in the boundary layer of re-entry vehicles local grids are generated around the flaps of the X-38 vehicle. Extensive studies of arranging and refining the local grids demonstrate good grid convergence. For laminar cases and cases with fixed transition vortex effects on the heat transfer are observed with and without artificial vortex excitation.

Zusammenfassung

Ziel der vorgelegten Studie ist die Untersuchung abgelöster Strömungen im Klappenbereich des X-38 Wiedereintrittsdemonstrators hinsichtlich der durch Längswirbel entstehenden thermischen Belastungen stromab der Anlegelinie. Im ersten Schritt werden turbulente generische Rampenkonfiguratiorien mit künstlich induzierten Wirbelstörungen mit Windkanaldaten des Ludwierohrkanals in Göttingen (RWG) verglichen. Die Ergebnisse erlauben einen Einblick in die Störströmung, der zugehörige Strömungstopologie und der Einflüsse verschiedener Parametervariationen auf die Störströmung. Zur numerischen Auflösung der Längswirbel in der Grenzschicht von Wiedereintrittsvehikeln wurden lokale Netze um die X-38 Klappen generiert. Ausführliche numerische Studien nach Umordnung und Verfeinerung der lokalen Netze zeigen eine gute Netzkonvergenz der Ergebnisse. In laminaren Fällen und solchen mit fester Transition wurden Wirbeleinflüsse auf den Wärmestrom mit und ohne künstliche Wirbelanregung beobachtet.     

Fuel mass penalty due to generators and fuel cells as energy source of the all-electric aircraft

The paper presents the results of an assessment of the fuel mass penalty due to generators and fuel cell systems. Based on the simulation tool SysFuel, fuel mass penalties for different mission ranges and fuel cell architectures are calculated and compared to a conventional reference architecture. Different fuel cell architectures using ram air or cabin exhaust air and different options of energy recovery are considered. As a result of the studies, target values are presented for the mass to power ratio of fuel cell systems to achieve fuel mass reductions compared to conventional generator and auxiliary power unit systems.