Study of Separation Control of Vortex Generators on Transonic Wings

Flows around vortex generators (VGs), which serve as one of the important flow control methods, are investigated by solving Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations. The influences on the main flow of VGs are intended to explore. To validate computational schemes, the flow around a single VG on a flat plane is computed to acquire basic knowledge of this kind of flow. Then transonic flow past a standard model, named by ONERA-M6 wing, is predicted to investigate the flow features of shockwave/boundary-layer interactions (SWBLI). Investigation is focused on a supercritical wing. Firstly, the effects of a row of VGs on the airfoil with the same cross-section design are calculated with periodical boundaries in transonic conditions. Then, VGs on the whole supercritical wing are analyzed with strong SWBLI. Lastly, VGs are mounted more upwind (about 3.5% local chord) to explore the effects at low speed and high incidence condition. The numerical results show that seven VGs on the wing can effectively suppress the separations behind the strong SWBLI and decrease spanwise flow and wing-tip vortex in transonic condition. VGs can also decrease the large scope of separation over the wing at low speed with high angle of attack.