Interference Effects of a Large Wing on the Performance of a Trailing Wing

• Main Authors: Mohammad A. Ghazi, Ibrahim A. Olwi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 1995-01-01
• Series: Journal of King Saud University: Engineering Sciences
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1018363918306184

Interference of trailing vortices from a flapped large leading wing on a flapped small trailing wing is experimentally investigated. The effect of such wake turbulence is investigated through wind tunnel measurements of lift and drag forces and the pitching moment on the trailing wing. The threat of wake vortices was manifested in substantial reduction in the lift performance. Such reduction of lift was magnified as the leading wing flap angle increased, but without affecting the slope of the lift coefficient curves. The resulting shift of those curves resulted in delayed separation on the trailing wing to higher angles of attack. Within the domain of parameters used in the study, the trailing wing stall angle has roughly doubled when a large wing equipped with a 30° flap was placed in the leading position. The drag force had been reduced as the leading wing flap angle was increased. However, the trailing wing stability had not been harassed by such hazard.