AERODYNAMIC AND FLOW-VISUALIZATION STUDIES OF VARIATIONS IN THE GEOMETRY OF IRREGULAR PLANFORM WINGS AT A MACH NUMBER OF 20.3

摘要

The longitudinal and summary lateral-directional stability characteristics have been obtained for a variety of irregular planform wings applied to a conceptual space shuttle orbiter. Three basic wing planforms with leading-edge sweep angles of 53.2°, 46.8°, and 35° were studied in conjunction with a series of inboard planform fillets with sweep angles up to 78°. The spanwise intersection point of the fillets and the basic wings was held constant. The data were obtained in the Langley 22-inch helium tunnel at a Mach number of 20.3 and a Reynolds number of 2.10 x 106 based on model length. Model angle-of-attack range was from 0° to 54° at sideslip angles of 0° and -3.8°. Also included are results of a flow-visualization study consisting of electron-beam-illuminated flow and surface oil-flow patterns.