Aerodynamic characteristics of canard-forward swept wing aircraft configurations

Abstract

The aerodynamic characteristics between the canard and wing of the Canard-forward swept wing aircraft configurations have been investigated numerically at low Reynolds number. The variation of the aerodynamic characteristics at different canard positions is the focus of the present investigation. The aerodynamic interference and the mutual coupling effect between the canard and wing will have great influences on the lift, drag, and sideslip characteristics of the whole aircraft. The canard-generated vortex can induce a favorable interference onto the main wing, controlling the onset of the boundary layer separation from the leading edge. At small angles of attack (α<10 deg the aerodynamic characteristics are sensitive to the relative position of the canard and the wing, but at high angles of attack (α>20 deg they are not only related to the orientation of the canard (forward or backward), but also the features of the vortices generated above the canard and the wing, including their strength and location.