How ground effect changes lift in circulation control wings

What is it about?

When an airplane flies very close to the ground—like during takeoff or landing—the air flowing around its wings behaves differently than it does in routine flight. This “ground effect” can alter the amount of lift the wing generates. In this study, we used computer simulations to explore how a special type of wing, called a circulation-control airfoil, responds to ground effect. These wings use blown air along their curved trailing edge to boost lift without traditional flaps or moving parts. We found that flying near the ground not only changes how much extra lift the blown air provides, but, under certain conditions, can even reverse whether ground effect helps or hurts performance. Our results help engineers better design aircraft that use this technology for safer and more efficient low-altitude flight.

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Photo by arnaud girault on Unsplash

Photo by arnaud girault on Unsplash