Citation:
Holt JC, Garry KP, Smith T. (2016) Investigation of the aerodynamic characteristics of a lifting body in ground proximity. Proceedings of the 34th AIAA Applied Aerodynamics Conference, 13-17 June 2016, Washington D.C., USA. Paper number AIAA 2016-3881
Abstract:
The use of cambered hull shapes in the next generation of lighter-than-air vehicles to
enhance aerodynamic performance, together with optimized take-off manoeuvre profiles,
will require a more detailed understanding of ground proximity effects for such aircraft. A
series of sub-scale wind tunnel tests at Re = 1.4 x 106 on a 6:1 prolate spheroid are used to
identify potential changes in aerodynamic lift, drag and pitching moment coefficients that
are likely to be experienced on the vehicle hull in isolation when in close ground proximity.
The experimental data is supported by a preliminary assessment of surface pressure changes
using a high order panel method (PANAIR) and RANS CFD simulations to assess the flow
structure. The effect of ground proximity, most evident when non-dimensional ground
clearance (h/c) < 0.3, is to reduce lift coefficient, increase drag coefficient and increase the body pitching moment coefficient.
