22nd Congress of International Council of the Aeronautical Sciences, Harrogate, UK, 28 August - 1st September, 2000
Paper ICAS 2000-1.2.R1

DESIGN INVESTIGATION OF VARIABLE CAMBER FLAPS FOR HIGH-SUBSONIC AIRLINERS

J. P. Fielding
College of Aeronautics, Cranfield University, UK

Keywords: variable camber flap, subsonic, airliner

Fixed-camber wings of current transport aircraft are designed for an optimum cruise lift coefficient and obtain efficient flight by means of stepped cruise-climb flight profiles. Future pollution legislation may preclude flights of this type and an alternative means of lift/drag optimisation may be required. Fixed-camber geometry can also be detrimental in terms of the development of a family of airliners, using a common wing. The wing may be optimum for the mid-range derivative aircraft, but will not be the case for larger and smaller variants. One solution is the use of variable-camber flaps for use in cruise as well as for take-off and landing. This paper will describe Cranfield University’s linked 15 year programme of studies into this area. These studies showed that there could be cost-benefits from such systems, in certain circumstances, as well as providing operational flexibility, which is the main driver for the variable-camber concept.

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