On the use of a wake-integral method for computational drag analysis

In this expository paper, a practical software implementation for calculating induced drag based on awakeintegral approach is presented. The procedures required to produce satisfactory performance predictions are disclosed. The flow solver used to numerically simulate the flowfield ahout the geometries studied herein is based on a finite-volume method to solve the three-dimensional Euler equations. Interface fluxes are determined using a high-resolution Riemann scheme. The post-processing software is versatile and is capable of handling different grid topologies on the transverse plane. To test the software, an elliptic wing is analyzed and a comparison is made with lifting-line theory. Further tests are conducted with isolated rectangular wings of varying aspect ratios under different lifting conditions. Finally, the software is applied to some wing-body combinations (tip engine configurations) and a comparison is made with experimental results.