Optimizing Design Parameters for Active Flow Control Boundary-Layer Fence Performance Enhancement on a Delta Wing

Utilizing CFD simulations, the study progressed the investigation of replicating and improving upon the performance of a NACA 0012 cropped delta-wing at high angles-of-attack with an AFC fluidic fence via wall-normal, steady blowing from an optimized single chordwise slot. Data was generated using CREATE-AV Kestrel CFD software on the DoD HPC systems. The flight regime was constant at Mach 1.18 with a Re of 5.0x10^5, based on the root chord, using angles-of-attack ranging from 0 to 30 degrees. Experimental and CFD performance results of three configurations (baseline, passive BLF and AFC slot) were compared to validate the CFD models. Computational optimization of the AFC slot parameters (slot width, length, and jet velocity) utilized peak performance gains to justify slot enhancement. Surface flow visualization assessed the unique flow features that contribute to span wise flow reduction and performance gains. The use of AFC techniques to replicate and improve passive flow control methods provides a solution for flow separation leading to wing stall and undesirable delta-wing moment characteristics. active flow control (AFC), boundary-layer fence (BLF) computational fluid dynamics (CFD), Computational Research.