Airplane Performance Analysis through CFD Results: Assessment of a NACA 64A212 Wing-body Combination

Abstract

A comprehensive understanding of fluid and flight dynamics of an aircraft cannot be understated from both an engineering and aircraft handling perspective. In this context, availability of such descriptive information, especially in the case of trainer aircraft, will deliver profitable results for both students and trainers. The detailed information regarding the aerodynamic behaviour of the wing is not disclosed by the aircraft manufacturer to relevant stakeholders. A research was conducted by the same researchers to examine the aerodynamic behaviour of an aircraft having a wingtip designed with the NACA 64A212 airfoil through Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) approach and a generic lift curve and drag polar was developed for flows of reasonable Reynolds number. Present work is involved with the assessment of the performance of the NACA 64A212 wing-body combination based on the results obtained for the 2- D airfoil. Solid modelling software is used to create the geometry and computational mesh of the wing-body combination. A CFD tool models the flow physics involved in flight, thus rendering performance parameters which are available only through trial and error in the present context. The results provide new insights into the behaviour of the wing-body combination, thus enabling means of enhancing performance and handling qualities of the aircraft for both designers and pilots.