Numerical simulation of wake interactions on a tandem wing configuration in high-speed stall conditions

In this work, the interaction of the separated wake of the front wing with the rear wing of a tandem configuration is investigated for high-speed stall conditions by means of hybrid RANS/LES simulations, using the zonal AZDES method. After a characterization of the transonic buffet on the front wing, the development of the separated turbulent wake behind the wing is investigated. The interaction of the separated wake with the rear wing is then analyzed in detail. The results reveal that there is a strong variation in the wake characteristics over the buffet cycle, caused by the varying amount of separation on the front wing. During the upstream movement of the shock, the flow is largely separated, resulting in a thick wake with strong, high-frequent fluctuations that can be attributed to large turbulent vortices. On the contrary, when the shock travels downstream, there is only a small amount of separation present, resulting in a thin wake with comparatively low fluctuations that are caused by corresponding smaller turbulent vortices. The impact of the wake of the front wing causes a strong variation in the rear wing loading. An oscillation with a comparatively low frequency can be distinguished from high-frequent fluctuations. The low-frequent oscillation is caused by the variation in the downwash behind the front wing as its lift changes during the buffet cycle. The high-frequent fluctuations are due to the impingement of the turbulent structures onto the rear wing. Because both size and frequency of those vortices vary significantly within the buffet cycle, the amplitude and frequency of the lift and surface pressure fluctuations also change accordingly.