10/16/2015

Modeling Lift in Potential Flows

Overview:
Flow of wings with finite wingspans
Potential flow
Simple models of lift, 2-D
3-D modeling
Velocities induced by trailing systems
Induced drag

Lift of Wings with Finite Wingspans

Spanwise flow
component

Shear layer
shed into wake
Shear layer
rolls up

Wake exhibits very little viscous behavior

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Byproduct of lift

Proportional to span-loading
and inverse proportional to
airspeed

At (L/D)max, induced drag

half of total drag

At lower speeds, more than

half of the total drag

Induced drag dominates

flight performance at low
speeds sizing challenges

Fast

Slow

A few comments about induced drag

Why Potential Flow Equations

At moderately large Reynolds numbers viscous effect largely limited to

narrow region close to surface boundary layer

Outer flow:
-little viscous effects
-Pressure distribution,
lift and pitch. moment
-Relatively thin
-Viscous drag
-Maximum Lift

Inviscid flow assumption reduces Navier-Stokes equations to Euler

equation
Solutions to potential equations are also solutions to Euler equation
thus potential flow model.

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Potential Flow

Potential flow requires an irrotational flow

field
no viscosity, heat transfer, or shocks

irrotational flow field

rotational flow field

Incompressible flow: linear superposition of

elementary solutions to potential equation

Lift and Potential Flow

Superposition of translational flow and potential vortex:

vds w (r )2r

V+w(r) P
upper < p

V-w(r)

Plower > p

According to Bernoulli

Kutta-Joukowsky theorem:

More general:

L' V

F' V

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Applied Kutta-Joukowsky Theorem: Magnus Effect

Example: Magnus Effect

A wing is replaced with a rotating drum of diameter D = 1m.
How fast does the drum have to rotate in order to enable
horizontal flight of an aircraft weighing W = 3000 N and having
a wingspan b = 15m?
The aircraft airspeed is V = 90km/h = 25 m/s. Assume
standard sea-level conditions ( = 1.225 kg/m3).

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3-D Considerations: Helmholtz Theroms

Movie
The Helmholtz theorems state:
In an irrotational flow field
a vortex filament cannot end in the fluid
the circulation remains constant along a vortex filament
circulation cannot be created or destroyed.

Infinite vortex, 2-D

Ring vortex

Horseshoe vortex

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Horseshoe Vortex
Starting vortex at
infinity.

Lift according Kutta-Joukowsky theorem:

Trailing system induces downwash on bound vortex

Induced drag also according to K-J theorem:

Dind

Note: for given (or lift) as b wind Dind

or in its limit b Dind = 0 (2-D case).

b/2

L bV

Vdy

b/2
b /2

wind dy

b/2

Biot-Savart Law

The velocity, q, that a segment of a vortex

filament, dl, induces in a point can be computed
using the Biot-Savart law:

The entire filament induces:

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Biot-Savart Law: Straight Vortex Segment

A straight vortex segment induces the

following velocity in P:

Two special cases:

Case 1:
and

doubly infinite vortex filament:

Note: double the
value!

Case 2:

and

semi-infinite vortex filament:

Downwash Field of Horseshoe Vortex System

Upwash

Upwash
Downwash

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Velocity Induced by Trailing

System at Bound Circulation
w

total
-b/2

b/2
y

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Example: Formation Flight: What control inputs are required?

1: directly behind each other

2: offset by half-span
3: offset by full-span

Horseshoe-Vortex System

y
Single horseshoe vortex
constant section lift across span

b/2

b / 2
L'

Real finite wing, section lift varies

along the span treat wing as a
series of superimposed horseshoe
vortices.

Excellent for numerical applications!

L V

i (2 yi )
i

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Horseshoe Vortex
Superimposing an infinite number of vortices on the span,
continuous circulation distribution across the span, (y)
continuous vortex sheet in wake (y)=d (y)/dy
Lifting line theory/analytical (Lanchester, Prandtl)

Summary
The aerodynamics of a finite wingspan depend on the effects of the
vorticity that trails downstream, which, in turn, depends on the change
of the bound circulation!

In order to analyze a wing, the effects of the

entire wing, or complete vortex system, have
to be integrated across the wingspan (as
opposed just tip vortices matter).

Induced drag can be explained with a

reduction in effective angle of attack due to
downwash effects that tilt the lift vector
aft and result in a drag component.

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Summary
We looked at

what occurs at the wing and in its wake

shedding of shear layer that rolls up.

Rollup is related to induced drag, which is

a byproduct of lift production.

Potential flow model captures wake

effects and can be used to predict lift
and drag (Kutta-Joukowsky).

Horseshoe vortex systems satisfy

Helmholtz and are suitable for numerical
applications

An infinite series of horseshoe vortices

analytical case of lifting line theory

Next: analytical approach

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