Vortex-Lattice Method for the Calculation of the Nonsteady Separated Flow over Delta Wings

An analysis is made of the wake structure and the forces on a delta wing as it undergoes nonsteady motion, wherein the flow separates at the leading edge. Comparisons of these predictions with existing experimental and theoretical data for the nonsteady linear and nonlinear motions indicate good agreement. It was found that the time-dependent, wake-shedding numerical procedure applied here for the wake rollup and the lift force calculation resulted in considerable saving of computer time over methods using the iterative wake rollup procedure. Calculated results for various motions of the delta wing, including the plunging motion, are presented for both the separated and the attached flow cases.