Research Article

THE EFFECT OF WAVE PARAMETERS ON AERODYNAMIC COEFFICIENTS DURING WING-IN-GROUND EFFECT FLIGHT

Volume: 14 Number: 2 June 30, 2026
EN TR

THE EFFECT OF WAVE PARAMETERS ON AERODYNAMIC COEFFICIENTS DURING WING-IN-GROUND EFFECT FLIGHT

Abstract

In this study, the ground effect, which affects the aerodynamic performance of aircraft flying near wavy ground was investigated with time-dependent 2D Unsteady RANS-based Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analyses. Analyses were conducted using a NACA 4412 airfoil under various wave amplitudes, wavelengths, and angles of attack. In the analyses, the airfoil was held stationary, and a sinusoidal moving ground model was applied underneath to simulate the periodic wave effect. The variation of lift, drag, and moment coefficient (CL, CD, Cm) values according to different wave positions was determined. It was determined that the highest CL occurred when approaching the wave crest and the lowest when approaching the trough. The effects of wave parameters, angles of attack, and proximity to the ground on the airfoil were analyzed. Results reveal that lift coefficient (CL) varies by 26.04 % over a wave period (from 0.962 to 1.250) for the most dynamic case (AOA=8°, h/c=0.4, λ/c=1, α/c=0.2). Maximum lift occurs at wave crests (CL=1.250), representing a 14.2% increase relative to time-averaged values, while minimum lift at wave troughs shows a 13% decrease. Ground clearance reduction from h/c=0.8 to h/c=0.4 amplifies fluctuations by 37%, while wavelength increase from λ/c=1 to λ/c=3 reduces variations by 58%.

Keywords

References

  1. References
  2. Rozhdestvensky K V. (2006). Wing-in-ground effect vehicles. Vol. 42, Progress in Aerospace Sciences. 211–283. Nebylov A, Nebylov V, Fabre P. (2015). WIG-Craft flight control above the waved sea. In IFAC-Papers OnLine. 102–107.
  3. Ockfen AE, Matveev KI. (2009). Aerodynamic characteristics of NACA 4412 airfoil section with flap in extreme ground effect. International Journal of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering; 1(1): 1–12. Hu H, Ma D. (2020) Airfoil aerodynamics in proximity to wavy ground for a wide range of angles of attack. Applied Sciences (Switzerland); 10(19).
  4. Liu X, Ma D, Yang M, Guo Y, Hu H. (2021). Numerical study on airfoil aerodynamics in proximity to wavy water surface for various amplitude. Applied Sciences (Switzerland); 11(9).
  5. Liang H, Zong Z, Zou L. (2013). Nonlinear lifting theory for unsteady WIG in proximity to incident water waves. Part 1: Two-dimensional. Applied Ocean Research; 43:99–111.
  6. Jung JH, Yoon HS, Chun HH, Hung PA, Elsamni OA. (2012). Mean flow characteristics of two-dimensional wings in the ground effect. International Journal of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering; 4(2): 151–161.
  7. He W, Guan Y, Theofilis V, Li LKB. (2019). Stability of low-Reynolds-number separated flow around an airfoil near a wavy ground. AIAA Journal; 57(1): 29–34.
  8. Matdaud Z, Zhahir A, Pua'At AA, Hassan A, Ahmad MT. (2019). Stabilizing Attitude Control for Mobility of Wing in Ground (WIG) Craft -A Review. In: IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering. Institute of Physics Publishing.

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Aerodynamics (Excl. Hypersonic Aerodynamics), Computational Methods in Fluid Flow, Heat and Mass Transfer (Incl. Computational Fluid Dynamics), Numerical Methods in Mechanical Engineering

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

June 30, 2026

Submission Date

December 5, 2025

Acceptance Date

April 5, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 14 Number: 2

APA
Bakırcı, M. (2026). THE EFFECT OF WAVE PARAMETERS ON AERODYNAMIC COEFFICIENTS DURING WING-IN-GROUND EFFECT FLIGHT. Mühendislik Bilimleri Ve Tasarım Dergisi, 14(2), 233-253. https://doi.org/10.21923/jesd.1836755
AMA
1.Bakırcı M. THE EFFECT OF WAVE PARAMETERS ON AERODYNAMIC COEFFICIENTS DURING WING-IN-GROUND EFFECT FLIGHT. JESD. 2026;14(2):233-253. doi:10.21923/jesd.1836755
Chicago
Bakırcı, Mehmet. 2026. “THE EFFECT OF WAVE PARAMETERS ON AERODYNAMIC COEFFICIENTS DURING WING-IN-GROUND EFFECT FLIGHT”. Mühendislik Bilimleri Ve Tasarım Dergisi 14 (2): 233-53. https://doi.org/10.21923/jesd.1836755.
EndNote
Bakırcı M (June 1, 2026) THE EFFECT OF WAVE PARAMETERS ON AERODYNAMIC COEFFICIENTS DURING WING-IN-GROUND EFFECT FLIGHT. Mühendislik Bilimleri ve Tasarım Dergisi 14 2 233–253.
IEEE
[1]M. Bakırcı, “THE EFFECT OF WAVE PARAMETERS ON AERODYNAMIC COEFFICIENTS DURING WING-IN-GROUND EFFECT FLIGHT”, JESD, vol. 14, no. 2, pp. 233–253, June 2026, doi: 10.21923/jesd.1836755.
ISNAD
Bakırcı, Mehmet. “THE EFFECT OF WAVE PARAMETERS ON AERODYNAMIC COEFFICIENTS DURING WING-IN-GROUND EFFECT FLIGHT”. Mühendislik Bilimleri ve Tasarım Dergisi 14/2 (June 1, 2026): 233-253. https://doi.org/10.21923/jesd.1836755.
JAMA
1.Bakırcı M. THE EFFECT OF WAVE PARAMETERS ON AERODYNAMIC COEFFICIENTS DURING WING-IN-GROUND EFFECT FLIGHT. JESD. 2026;14:233–253.
MLA
Bakırcı, Mehmet. “THE EFFECT OF WAVE PARAMETERS ON AERODYNAMIC COEFFICIENTS DURING WING-IN-GROUND EFFECT FLIGHT”. Mühendislik Bilimleri Ve Tasarım Dergisi, vol. 14, no. 2, June 2026, pp. 233-5, doi:10.21923/jesd.1836755.
Vancouver
1.Mehmet Bakırcı. THE EFFECT OF WAVE PARAMETERS ON AERODYNAMIC COEFFICIENTS DURING WING-IN-GROUND EFFECT FLIGHT. JESD. 2026 Jun. 1;14(2):233-5. doi:10.21923/jesd.1836755