A numerical approach for implementing air intakes in a canard type aircraft for engine cooling purposes

Abstract

This work presents selected results of an unconventional aircraft development campaign. Engine installation at the rear part of the fuselage imposed design constraints for air intakes that should be used for cooling purposes. Trial and error flight tests increased the development cost and time which required a more sophisticated analysis through computational fluid dynamics (CFD) techniques and robust semiempirical approach. The carried-out investigation of the air intakes started with an empirical approach from guidelines for designing NACA and scoops. Numerical studies via computational fluid dynamics were performed with the air intakes installed in the aircraft fuselage. An analysis based on the air intake efficiency, drag and the effect of angle of attack are detailed in this work. Different air intakes designs, such as scoops of different shapes, were evaluated seeking for improved air intake efficiency and low drag while providing enough air for cooling the engine compartment. The results showed that the numerical approach used herein decreased the development cost and time of the aircraft, providing a reasonable low-cost approach and leading to a design selection more easily. Based on the current approach the canard airplane geometry was changed to account for the new selected air intake for engine cooling purposes.