Analysis of flow separation control using nanosecond-pulse discharge plasma actuators on a flying wing

Dielectric barrier discharge （DBD） plasma is one of most promising flow control method for its several advantages. The present work investigates the control authority of nanosecond pulse DBD plasma actuators on a flying wing model＇s aerodynamic characteristics. The aerodynamic forces and moments are studied by means of experiment and numerical simulation. The numerical simulation results are in good agreement with experiment results. Both results indicate that the NS-DBD plasma actuators have negligible effect on aerodynamic forces and moment at the angles of attack smaller than 16-. However, significant changes can be achieved with actuation when the model＇s angle of attack is larger than 16° where the flow separation occurs. The spatial flow field structure results from numerical simulation suggest that the volumetric heat produced by NS-DBD plasma actuator changes the local temperature and density and induces several vortex structures, which strengthen the mixing of the shear layer with the main flow and delay separation or even reattach the separated flow.

Flight control of a flying wing aircraft based on circulation control using synthetic jet actuators

To achieve the nice stealth performance and aerodynamic maneuverability of a Flying Wing Aircraft(FWA),a longitudinal aerodynamic control technology based on circulation control using trailing-edge synthetic jet actuators was proposed without the movement of rudders.Effects on the longitudinal aerodynamic characteristics of a small-sweep FWA were investigated.Then,flight tests were carried out to verify the control abilities,providing a novel technology for the design of a future rudderless FWA.Results show that synthetic jets could narrow the dead zone area,improve the flow velocity near the trailing edge,and then move the trailing-edge separation point and the leading-edge stagnation point downwards,which make the effective Attack of Angle(AOA)increase,thereby enhancing the pressure envelope area.Circulation control based on synthetic jets could improve the lift,drag and nose-down moment.The variations of lift and nosedown moment decrease with the growth of AOA caused by the improved reverse pressure gradient and the weakened circulation control efficiency.Finally,synthetic jet actuators were integrated into the trailing edge of a small-sweep FWA,which could realize the roll and pitch control without deflections of rudders during the cruise stage,and the maximum roll and pitch angular velocity are 12.64(°)/s and 8.51(°)/s,respectively.

Novel yaw effector of a flying wing aircraft based on reverse dual synthetic jets

For achieving the nice stealth performance and aerodynamic maneuverability of a Flying Wing Aircraft(FWA),a novel yaw effector based on Reverse Dual Synthetic Jets(RDSJ)was proposed without the movement of rudders.Effects on aerodynamic characteristics of a small-sweep FWA and control mechanism were investigated by numerical simulations.Finally,reverse dual synthetic jet actuators were integrated into a real FWA and flight tests were firstly carried out.Numerical results show that RDSJ could make drag coefficient increase and weaken lift coefficient,which generate a yawing moment and a rolling moment in the same direction,realizing control of heading attitudes,but strong coupling with the pitching moment occurs at large angles of attack.For control mechanism,RDSJ could produce two reverse synthetic jets out of phases,improve the reverse pressure gradient and hence form alternate recirculation zones or even early large-area separation,which cause the rise of pressures before exits and the dip of pressures behind exits,achieving improvement of drag and the yawing moment.The results of flight tests support that RDSJ could realize control of heading attitudes without deflections of rudders during the cruise stage and achieve the maximal yaw angular velocity of 10.12(°)/s,verifying the feasibility of this novel yaw effector.

Suggestion for aircraft flying qualities requirements of a short-range air combat mission

Owing to the lack of a direct link with the operations in short-range air combat,conventional aircraft flying qualities criteria are inappropriate to guide the design of a task-tailored flight control law.By applying the mission-oriented flying qualities evaluation approach,various aircraft with different control law parameters are evaluated on a ground-based simulator.This paper compares the evaluation results with several conventional flying qualities criteria,and discusses the appropriate parameter combination to reflect the flying qualities requirements of short-range air combat.The comparison and analysis show that a short-range air combat mission requires a higher minimum short period mode natural frequency and a smaller maximum roll mode time constant,and allows a lower minimum pitch attitude bandwidth and a higher maximum short period mode damp ratio than those of conventional flying qualities criteria.Furthermore,a combination of the pitch attitude bandwidth,the pitch attitude magnitude at the bandwidth frequency,and the pitch attitude transfer function gain can define the flying qualities requirements of short-range air combat.The new metric can successfully predict the flying quality levels of aircraft in a short-range air combat mission.

Numerical simulation and transonic wind-tunnel test for elastic thin-shell structure considering fluid–structure interaction

Aerodynamic force can lead to the strong structural vibration of flying aircraft at a high speed. This harmful vibration can bring damage or failure to the electronic equipment fixed in aircraft. It is necessary to predict the structural dynamic response in the design course. This paper presents a new numerical algorithm and scheme to solve the structural dynamics responses when considering fluid–structure interaction（FSI）. Numerical simulation for a free-flying structural model in transonic speed is completed. Results show that the small elastic deformation of the structure can greatly affect the FSI. The FSI vibration tests are carried out in a transonic speed windtunnel for checking numerical theory and algorithms, and the wind-tunnel test results well accord with that of the numerical simulation. This indicates that the presented numerical method can be applied to predicting the structural dynamics responses when containing the FSI.