The flight mechanical properties of unconventional aircraft configurations are not well understood, although these designs promise vast improvements in aircraft efficiency. Selecting a new aircraft's configuration strongly depends on the availability of design tools and the confidence in their results. RANS CFD and a vortex-lattice-based low order tool (VSPAERO) are being evaluated concerning their ability to model joined wing longitudinal and lateral aerodynamic characteristics, as well as control derivatives by comparison to reference wind tunnel data. The results show that VSPAERO efficiently completes these tasks, as long as flow separation does not become prominent. Its speed advantage and automation features promote its application in large scale aircraft design studies. Steady RANS results match wind tunnel data accurately, though high AoAs require a switch to unsteady RANS. Its computational costs promote the use for key data points or high angles of attack and sideslip.
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