How shedding vortices affect the circulation control wings

What is it about?

Circulation control airfoils use a clever trick from fluid dynamics—the Coanda effect—to steer or lift an aircraft without traditional moving parts like flaps or rudders. In this study, we discovered that as high-speed air is blown over the curved trailing edge of such an airfoil, it naturally sheds large swirling vortices near the exit slot. These vortices stir up the surrounding airflow, causing the jet to lose energy faster than desired and reducing control effectiveness. By slightly lowering a small lip at the jet exit, we can shrink these vortices, slow down the jet’s energy loss, and significantly improve performance. This insight helps engineers design simpler, more efficient “rudderless” aircraft that rely on airflow alone for control—making them lighter, quieter, and more reliable.

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Photo by Logan Voss on Unsplash

Photo by Logan Voss on Unsplash