A theory of the separated flow from the curved leading edge of a slender wing

Abstract

The simple model used by Brown and Michael to represent the flow past a slender delta wing with leading edge separation, is extended to treat wings which have pointed apexes, curved leading edges and straight, unswept trailing edges. The vorticity of the fluid near the leading edge is represented by all isolated vortex of varying strength, which is curved in the non-conical cases considered here. A step-by-step method of calculation is used which starts from an assumed conical flow near the apex and employs the condition of zero total force on the vortex system in one cross-flow plane to obtain the configuration in the next. Numerical values of the co-ordinates and strength of the vortex, the lift coefficient and the centre-of-pressure position are found for three plan-form families at different incidences.