Aeroelastic analysis of wings using the Euler equations with a deforming mesh

Abstract

Modifications to the CFL3D three-dimensional unsteady Euler/Navier-Stokes code for the aeroelastic analysis of wings are described. The modifications involve including a deforming mesh capability that can move the mesh to continuously conform to the instantaneous shape of the aeroelastically deforming wing and also including the structural equations of motion for their simultaneous time integration with the governing flow equations. Calculations were performed using the Euler equations to verify the modifications to the code and as a first step toward aeroelastic analysis using the Navier-Stokes equations. Results are presented for the NACA 0012 airfoil and a 45-deg sweptback wing to demonstrate applications of CFL3D for generalized force computations and aeroelastic analysis. Comparisons are made with published Euler results for the NACA 0012 airfoil and with experimental flutter data for the 45-deg sweptback wing to access the accuracy of the present capability. These comparisons show good agreement and, thus, the CFL3D code may be used with confidence for aeroelastic analysis of wings. The paper describes the modifications that were made to the code and presents results and comparisons that assess the capability.