Prediction of Buffet Loads on Twin Vertical Tails Using a Vortex Method

Abstract

The work is concerned with the computation of F/A-18 vertical tail buffet due to LEX vortex burst using vortex methods of unsteady flow modelling. It is recognized that prediction of buffet loading requires accurate modelling of the unsteady pressure field past a burst LEX vortex. To reduce computational overheads associated with simulation of flow over the complete aircraft, a more generic delta-wing, twin vertical-tail configuration was used for initial studies. The aim is to generate an unsteady, vortex-breakdown flow using a delta wing and to place a vertical tail, which is cantilevered, downstream of the vortex breakdown flow. The paper describes the development of an unsteady vortex model for prediction of buffet loads and its validation against experimental data. Results of computation indicate that the vortex model is able to predict the onset of leading edge vortex breakdown and qualitatively describe the characteristics of unsteady buffet pressures arising on the rigid tail.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jul 01, 2001
Accession Number
ADA396754

Entities

People

  • Oleg Levinski

Organizations

  • Defence Science and Technology Group

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aerodynamic Characteristics
  • Aeroelasticity
  • Aircrafts
  • Airframes
  • Boundary Layer
  • Computational Fluid Dynamics
  • Computational Science
  • Engineering
  • Fluid Dynamics
  • Fluid Flow
  • Geometry
  • Incompressible Flow
  • Mechanical Properties
  • Physics Laboratories
  • Pressure Distribution
  • Turbulent Mixing
  • Unsteady Flow

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Aerodynamics/Aeronautics.
  • Computational Modeling and Simulation
  • Fluid Mechanics and Fluid Dynamics.