University of Tennessee, Knoxville TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange Masters Theses Graduate School 12-2005 Experimental Aerodynamic Analysis of a Wing-Flap System with Delta Vortex Generators Charles Roy McConnell University of Tennessee, Knoxville Follow this and additional works at: https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_gradthes Part of the Aerospace Engineering Commons Recommended Citation McConnell, Charles Roy, "Experimental Aerodynamic Analysis of a Wing-Flap System with Delta Vortex Generators. " Master's Thesis, University of Tennessee, 2005. https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_gradthes/4590 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange. It has been accepted for inclusion in Masters Theses by an authorized administrator of TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange. For more information, please contact [email protected]. To the Graduate Council: I am submitting herewith a thesis written by Charles Roy McConnell entitled "Experimental Aerodynamic Analysis of a Wing-Flap System with Delta Vortex Generators." I have examined the final electronic copy of this thesis for form and content and recommend that it be accepted in partial fulfillment of the equirr ements for the degree of Master of Science, with a major in Aerospace Engineering. Robert Bond, Major Professor We have read this thesis and recommend its acceptance: Majid Keyhani, M. W. Milligan Accepted for the Council: Carolyn R. Hodges Vice Provost and Dean of the Graduate School (Original signatures are on file with official studentecor r ds.) To the Graduate Council I am submitting herewith a thesis written by Charles Roy McConnell Jr entitled "Experimental Aerodynamic Analysis of a Wing-Flap System with Delta Vortex Generators." I have examined the final paper copy of this thesis forform and content and recommend that it be accepted in partial fulfillmentof the requirements forthe degree of Master of Science, with a major in Aerospace Engineering. 4��g/Robert Bond,MajorProfessor We have read this thesis and recommend its acceptance: Acceptance forthe Council: Experimental Aerodynamic Analysis of a Wing-Flap System with Delta Vortex Generators A Thesis Presented for the Master of Science Degree The University of Tennessee, Knoxville Charles Roy McConnell Jr December 2005 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to express volumes of thanks to all those involved in helping me through the process of completing my thesis research. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Dr. Bond who has always been there to consult with on troubling issues and to just sit and have a chat with. He has been instrumental in helping to fund this research and his willingness to assist me was more than I could have expected. He has been a valued mentor, teacher, motivator, and friend; I am very thankful forhaving had the opportunity to work with him on this research. To my committee members, Dr.'s Milligan and Keyhani, I am thankful that you have been able to be a part of this research and I am even more thankful of the influences that you have had on my education. If not for the educational impressions made upon me by you, I would not be able to consider my experiences at the University of Tennessee nearly as valuable as they have been. I would also like to thank the Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Tennessee; the faculty and staffhave always been there to assist me. There have been a handful of educators in my life that have had a memorable influence on my desire to learnand on my commitment to achieve. Most importantly is Dr. Eric Klumpe, if not forhim there is no doubt that I would not be where I am today in obtaining a career as an Aerospace Engineer. I would also like to thank my wife, Jennifer. Her grace has always amazed me and her compassion for others influences me to recognize my own faults and want to be a 11 better person. Her support in my pursuit of this degree has been unwavering and she has been my motivation when I've been overwhelmed by the graduate school experience. I have been blessed by the gift of her and I would not be where I am today if it were not for that blessing. I would also like to thank my family, I appreciate their encouragement and pride in my pursuit of this degree. I am thankful that there has always been a place for me in the family business and even more thankfulthat they have been so supportive of my desire to leave that life and become an engineer. lll ABSTRACT Experimental Aerodynamic Analysis of A Wing-Flap System with Delta Vortex Generators By Charles McConnell Jr The principle idea upon which the use of vortex generators (VGs) is based has been to control flow separation. The characteristic ofVGs has been used to improve lift and alter the stall characteristics of aircraft and has been a relatively common practice for many years. Due to the seemingly limitless range ofVG geometries and arrangements, which are largely dependant upon the desired aerodynamic performance, there has been a broad investigation into VG application. The purpose of this experimental investigation has been to collect data to be used to establish the effects ofvarious delta shaped vortex generators (delta-VGs) geometries and locations for comparison with a baseline model. The data for this research were collected using the University of Tennessee subsonic wind tunnel and were used to produce aerodynamic information including coefficients for lift, drag and pitching moment. In this research program it was found that delta-VGs mounted along the flap­ hinge line produced little effect on lift. It was believed that flowseparation was either induced by the delta-VGs or that separation simply occurred beforethe delta-VGs could aide in the flow characteristics on the model. Testing with the delta-VGs nearthe leading edge of the model produced significant aerodynamic benefit regardless of the delta-VG arrangement. Continued experiments on some of the more beneficialarrangements lV identifiedthat the length and the spacing between the delta-VGs produced results that could improve the maximum lift coefficient, the angle of attack at which it occurred and improved the lift to drag ratio. In the case of a¾" length delta-VG with a 2" spacing and a 60° sweep angle, improvements by as much as 57% fromthe baseline where observed in C1max· The separation region forthis configurationwas also delayed by 4 °. These experiments also revealed that decreasing the spacing between delta-VGs increased the magnitude of the lift to drag ratio and in some cases extended the angle at which the maximum lift to drag ratio occurred. V TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION.......................................................................... 1 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW ............................................................... 3 CHAPTER 3: EXPERIMENTAL APPARATUS.................................................. 7 3.1 UTK Subsonic Wind Tunnel ............................................................. 7 3.2 Wind Tunnel Instrumentation and Equipment ....................... , ........... 7 3.3 Calibration of Test Equipment .......................................................... 9 3.4 Two Dimensional Wind Tunnel Model . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 11 CHAPTER 4: EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE................................................ 13 4.1 Experimental Test Procedure.......................................................... 13 4.2 Experimental Data Acquisition Procedure....................................... 14 4.3 Experimental Determination of Aerodynamic Coefficients.............. 15 4.4 Experimental Placement of Vortex Generators................................ 15 4.5 Error Estimation for Experimental Data.......................................... 16 CHAPTER 5: RESULTS ANDDISCUSSION ................................................... 20 5.1 Baseline Model Data....................................................................... 20 5.2 Length Comparison of Vortex Generators at Flap-Hinge Line........ 22 5.3 Spacing Comparison of Vortex Generators at Flap-Hinge Line ...... 22 5.4 Additional Geometries of Vortex Generators at Flap Hinge Line...... 23 5.5 Surface Comparison of Leading Edge Vortex Generators............... 23 5.6 Length Comparison of Leading Edge Vortex Generators................ 25 5.7 Spacing Comparison of Leading Edge Vortex Generators .............. 26 Vl CHAPTER 6: CONCLUSIONS........................................................................... 28 LIST OF REFERENCES ...................................................................................... 31 APPENDIX.......................................................................................................... 33 VITA .................................................................................................................. 107 vu LIST OF TABLES Table Page 4.1.1 Experimental Test Matrix ......................................................................... 34 4.5.1 Calculation of Error in Lift....................................................................... 34 4.5.2 Calculation of Error in Drag..................................................................... 34 4.5.3 Calculation of Error in Pitching Moment.................................................. 35 4.5.4 Error in Dynamic Pressure, Effect on Lift................................................. 35 4.5.5 Error in Dynamic Pressure, Effect on Drag...............................................