Investigation of a multi-element airfoil high-lift characteristics at high Reynolds numbers

This paper presents the results of a two-dimensional high-lift wind tunnel test that was conducted by Bombardier Aerospace in collaboration with the Institute for Aerospace Research (NRC). A Bombardier experimental airfoil section equipped with a slat and a double-slotted flap was tested in January 2001 in the IAR high-Reynolds number 15 in. x 60 in. two-dimensional test facility. A number of slat and flap settings were selected in order to identify the best combination for a specific application. The influence of various physical parameters on the high-lift characteristics of the model was investigated These parameters include the full sealing of the slat in take-off configuration, the presence of roughness on the leading edge and the position of the bute door. The variation of maximum lift with Mach and Reynolds numbers was also studied. Comparisons are made with the predictions of various numerical methods, ranging from a viscous panel code to an unstructured-grid Navier-Stokes solver. These comparisons have highlighted the method sophistication that is required to properly model high-lift flows.