Lift enhancement using close-coupled canard wing vortex interaction

Abstract

A wind-tunnel study to find the lift and drag characteristics of a low-aspect-ratio wingbody configuration from an angle of attack (AOA) of -8 to 50 degrees was conducted. A further study to find the comparative lift enhancement using the same wingbody with a close-coupled canard for wingbody angles of attack of 10, 22, 34, 40, and 48 degrees and canard deflection angles from -25 to 25 degrees was carried out. It was found that a properly-located canard enhanced the lift at all tested angles of attack, compared to the baseline wingbody configuration results. The lift enhancement was maximized in the post-stall regimes, reaching values up to 34%. A small improvement in lift- to-drag ratio was noted at all tested angles above 10 degrees angle of attack.