Flow Computation for Three-Dimensional Wing in Ground Effect Using Multi-Block Technique

Abstract

A WIG (Wing In Ground effect) vehicle is expected to be one of the promising super-high speed craft in the next generation. A WIG is characterized by a high lift to drag ratio and a backward shift of aerodynamic centre in close proximity to the ground, hence estimating their features accurately is very important in design and safety evaluation.
In the present investigation, flows around a three-dimensional wing with end-plates in ground effect are computed by a Navier-Stokes solver. Because of the geometric complexity of the configuration, a multi-block technique is used. In order to clarify the aerodynamic interaction between the wing and the ground, two boundary conditions on the ground are considered, that is case 1) velocity is equal to the uniform flow and case 2) no slip condition. They correspond to an actual operating condition and a wind-tunnel condition with a ground plate respectively. The flows with different ground heights are computed by the solver. Results are compared with experimental data and the aerodynamic characteristics in ground effect are discussed.