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Aerofoil ground effect revisited

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 July 2016

C. Coulliette  and
A. Plotkin
C. Coulliette
Affiliation:
Department of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering MechanicsSan Diego State UniversityCalifornia, USA
A. Plotkin
Affiliation:
Department of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering MechanicsSan Diego State UniversityCalifornia, USA
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Abstract

Steady state aerofoil ground effect is studied both numerically and analytically. Discrete vortex and linear vortex panel methods are applied to a parabolic arc and symmetric Joukowski aerofoil, respectively. A single vortex model for the flow over the parabolic arc aerofoil is developed. The single vortex model and other analytical solutions, valid either near or far from the ground, are compared with the numerical results. The numerical results are used to delineate the influences of angle of attack, camber and thickness. For small values of camber and angle of attack, normalised lift is enhanced near the ground and reduced far from it. For a fixed distance above the ground, normalised lift decreases with increasing angle of attack and camber. Thickness reduces lift at all heights above the ground.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Aeronautical Journal , Volume 100 , Issue 992 , February 1996 , pp. 65 - 74
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Aeronautical Society 1996 

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