Download or read book Estimated Benefits of Variable-Geometry Wing Camber Control for Transport Aircraft written by National Aeronautics and Space Adm Nasa and published by Independently Published. This book was released on 2018-09-19 with total page 50 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Analytical benefits of variable-camber capability on subsonic transport aircraft are explored. Using aerodynamic performance models, including drag as a function of deflection angle for control surfaces of interest, optimal performance benefits of variable camber are calculated. Results demonstrate that if all wing trailing-edge surfaces are available for optimization, drag can be significantly reduced at most points within the flight envelope. The optimization approach developed and illustrated for flight uses variable camber for optimization of aerodynamic efficiency (maximizing the lift-to-drag ratio). Most transport aircraft have significant latent capability in this area. Wing camber control that can affect performance optimization for transport aircraft includes symmetric use of ailerons and flaps. In this paper, drag characteristics for aileron and flap deflections are computed based on analytical and wind-tunnel data. All calculations based on predictions for the subject aircraft and the optimal surface deflection are obtained by simple interpolation for given conditions. An algorithm is also presented for computation of optimal surface deflection for given conditions. Benefits of variable camber for a transport configuration using a simple trailing-edge control surface system can approach more than 10 percent, especially for nonstandard flight conditions. In the cruise regime, the benefit is 1-3 percent.Bolonkin, Alexander and Gilyard, Glenn B.Armstrong Flight Research CenterWING CAMBER; WIND TUNNEL TESTS; TRANSPORT AIRCRAFT; ADAPTIVE CONTROL; CAMBERED WINGS; AERODYNAMIC CHARACTERISTICS; AIRCRAFT PERFORMANCE; COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT; LIFT DRAG RATIO; SUBSONIC SPEED; CONTROL SURFACES; TRAILING EDGES; AILERONS; ALGORITHMS; MACH NUMBER; PITCHING MOMENTS; FLIGHT OPTIMIZATION