Numerical Study of Leading-Edge Defect on the Aerodynamic Characteristics

Abstract

For the past several years, great efforts have been put in to investigate the effect of sudden damage in the wing surface on aircraft performance. Leading edge erosion and other defects of the wing are a negative factor for an aircraft wing in some challenging environments like offshore regions and desert region with abrasive sand particle. So the leading edge of the aircraft wing must be able to resist high velocity impact and its significance has come to the knowledge of many researchers and engineers. Studies have been made focusing mainly on the slender erosion of the wing with trenches or grooves on the surface and simplified erosion patterns with few variations. The main objective of this work is to study how various forms of defect and minor changes in the wing leading-edge will affect lift and drag for different Angles of Attack (AOA). The numerical study has been carried out using 3D, steady, pressure based finite volume scheme of compressible Navier-Stokes's equation.