Aerodynamic Analysis of Morphing Winglets for Improved Commercial Aircraft Performance

Year 2020, Volume: 4 Issue: 1, 31 - 44, 24.06.2020

Erdogan Kaygan

https://doi.org/10.30518/jav.716194

Cited By: 4

Abstract

This article describes the performance benefits of variable winglet configurations. The primary variables investigated involved varying the winglet twist and dihedral angle of a comparable Airbus A330-300 wing structure. Numerical studies have been carried out in AVL (Athena Vortex Lattice Method). In order to illustrate the aerodynamic benefits of morphing winglet concepts for different flight regimes, values of twist (-10°< θ <10°, in steps of ±2.5°) and values of dihedral (-90°< θ <90°, in steps of ±15°) were designed and numerically investigated. The results obtained from this work indicate that by carefully adjusting morphing winglets on air vehicles (Airbus A330-300), the aerodynamic performance benefits could be achieved.

Keywords

Aerodynamics, Aircraft, Drag, Morphing

Geliştirilmiş Ticari Uçak Performansı için Uyarlanabilen Kanatçıkların Aerodinamik Analizi

Abstract

This article describes the performance benefits of variable winglet configurations. The primary variables investigated involved varying the winglet twist and dihedral angle of a comparable Airbus A330-300 wing structure. Numerical studies have been carried out in AVL (Athena Vortex Lattice Method). In order to illustrate the aerodynamic benefits of morphing winglet concepts for different flight regimes, values of twist (-10°< θ <10°, in steps of ±2.5°) and values of dihedral (-90°< θ <90°, in steps of ±15°) were designed and numerically investigated. The results obtained from this work indicate that by carefully adjusting morphing winglets on air vehicles (Airbus A330-300), the aerodynamic performance benefits could be achieved.

Keywords

Aerodynamics, Aircraft, Drag, Morphing

References

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