Numerical simulation of a wing with a gapless high-lift system using circulation control

Numerical 2D simulations with a RAMS flow solver are conducted to find the aerodynamic sensitivities of a gapless high-lift system. The investigated high-lift configuration is an airfoil which utilises trailing edge blowing. A small fraction of the engine flow is used for circulation control. The air is blown from a slot directly upstream of the flap and thus the flow over the flap can bear large adverse pressure gradients without separation. It was found that the use of circulation control yields lift coefficients which are comparable or superior to those generated by conventional high-lift systems. The promising results of the 2D simulations motivate applications to a wing-body configuration. The results show that a gapless high-lift system equipped with circulation control has the ability to provide sufficient lift for take off, climb and landing.