Numerical Study of the Lift Enhancement Mechanism of Circulation Control in Transonic Flow

The lift of an aircraft can be effectively enhanced by circulation control (CC) technology at subsonic speeds, but the efficiency at transonic speeds is greatly decreased. The underlying mechanism of this phenomenon is not fully understood. In this study, Reynolds averaged Navier—Stokes simulation with k−ω shear stress transport model was utilized to investigate the mechanism of lift enhancement by CC in transonic flow. For validation, the numerical CC results were compared with the NASA experimental data obtained for transonic CC airfoil. Thereafter, the RAE2822 airfoil was modified with a Coanda surface. The lift enhancement effects of CC via steady blowing with different momentum coefficients were tested at Ma=0.3 and 0.8 at α=3∘ , and various fluid mechanics phenomena were investigated. The results indicate that the flow structure of the CC jet is insensitive to the incoming flow conditions because of the similarity to the local static pressure field around the trailing edge of the airfoil. Owing to the appearance of shockwaves on the airfoil surface in the transonic regime, the performance of the CC jet is restricted to the trailing edge of the airfoil. Transonic CC achieved a slight improvement in aerodynamic performance owing to a favorable shift in the shockwave pattern and accelerated flow in the separation region on the airfoil surfaces. Revealing the mechanism of lift enhancement of CC in the transonic regime can facilitate the rational design of new fluidic actuators with high activity and expand the potential applications of CC technology.