Recent development of a CFD-wind tunnel correlation study based on CAE-AVM investigation

Abstract This paper starts with brief introduction to the open topic of the CFD and wing tunnel correlation study, followed by a description of the Chinese Aeronautical Establishment (CAE) – Aerodynamic Validation Model (AVM) and its wind tunnel test in the German-Dutch Wind tunnels (DNW). The features of the aerodynamic design, the CFD approach, the wind tunnel model fabrication and the experimental techniques are discussed along with the motivation of the CAE-DNW workshop on CFD-wind tunnel correlation study. The workshop objective is focused on the interference from the aero-elastic deformation of the wind tunnel model and the model support system to the aerodynamic performance and CFD validations. The four study cases, geometry and mesh preparation of the workshop are introduced. A comprehensive summary of the CFD results from the organizer and the participants is provided. Major observations, both CFD to CFD and CFD to wind tunnel, are identified and summarized. The CFD results of the participants are in good agreement with each other, and with the wind tunnel test data when the wing deformation and a Z-sting system are included in the CFD, indicating the importance of considering such interference at high subsonic Mach number of 0.85.