Aerodynamic Loads over Arbitrary Bodies by Method of Integrated Circulation

A novel numerical method for the conversion of unstructured surface vorticity into directional integrated circulation has been presented. This method allows for the reduction of vorticity distributions on arbitrary three-dimensional bodies into their mathematically equivalent formulations in the Prandtl lifting-line theory. A discussion of its implementation into a practical numerical solver has been presented. This new solver was applied to simple wing shapes as well as complex aircraft geometries to demonstrate the applicability of such an approach to flow solvers. It was shown that the reduction to lifting-line theory was exact for simple shapes such as rectangular and elliptical wings. For complex aircraft geometries, such as leading-edge root extension and canard-equipped aircraft, it was shown that the method of integrated circulation allowed for accurate prediction of aircraft loads and the analysis of flow physics, in keeping with the Prandtl original concepts.