Investigation on application of high-lift configuration to wing-in-ground effect

Abstract

A numerical analysis is performed to investigate the aerodynamic characteristics and the static height stability of high-lift configurations for a two-dimensional wing in ground effect. Fowler flap, plain flap, and slat are taken into consideration in this study. The analysis shows that both suction and pressure effects of high-lift configuration are affected by ground effect; Fowler flap can increase the lift for wing in ground effect by increasing camber and chord, but performs better with higher ground clearance; lift of plain-flap configuration increases with decrease in the ground clearance, though the suction effect is weakened; there should not be slot for flap based on static height stability, plain flap is an appropriate choice; the static height stability can be improved by slat and impaired by flap; slat can prevent the stall though wing is apt to stall in ground effect. Based on the results and analysis of this study, performances of aerodynamics and stall for a WIG craft can be improved by deploying high-lift configuration wing.