Robust Closed-Loop Lift Control on an Industry-Relevant Civil Aircraft Half Model

This work shows the design and application of closed-loop flow control on a 1:12.6 model of an industry-relevant civil aircraft half-model wing with high-lift devices. A robust closed-loop controller was designed to control the lift generated by the airfoil. Pressure sensor data from the flap were used by the controller to drive fast solenoid valves which generate periodically pulsed jet flows into the flap flow to manipulate the separated flow. The controller was in charge of two separate segments, the in-board and out-board flap, which were actuated separately to meet a commanded lift coefficient value for the wing. By this closed-loop actuation concept, completely new flight paths are possible unseen with current technology besides the more simple delay and avoidance of separation.