Aerodynamic/mechanism optimization of a variable camber Fowler flap for general aviation aircraft

A conventional Fowler flap is designed to improve the take-off and landing performances of an aircraft. Because the flight states of general aviation aircraft vary significantly. A Fowler flap with a double-sliding track has been designed, which is capable of changing airfoil camber while cruising and climbing as well as meeting low-speed performance requirements. The aerodynamic characteristics of the variable camber Fowler flap were studied by computational simulation, and cambering was found to be beneficial for improving the lift-to-drag ratio when the lift coefficient was larger than the critical value, below which decambering was more effective; this critical value differed somewhat under different conditions. Taking the mechanism into account, the take-off and landing configurations were optimized on the basis of the GA (W)-1 airfoil with a 30% chord Fowler flap. Compared with reference configuration, the maximum lift coefficient of optimized take-off configuration was increased by 6.6% as well as the stalling angle and the lift-to-drag ratio were increased by 1.3° and 7.58%, respectively. Moreover, the maximum lift coefficient of the optimized landing configuration was increased by 6.3%, and the stalling angle was increased by 1.1°; however, the nose-down pitching moment of both configurations increased. Similar results were attained on a general aviation aircraft wing/body combination. A 3D model of the variable-camber Fowler flap driving mechanism was established in a computer-aided design system, and the results showed that all design configurations could be achieved by the double-sliding track.