Evaluation of aerodynamic performance of the geometrical twist by variation the Reynolds number in a flying wing

The twist is one of the most important parameters in the design of the flying wing and tailless aircraft that causes eliminate some aerodynamic challenge at these categories of aircrafts. The present study was performed for an aerodynamic investigation of the geometrical twist at a subsonic flying wing and evaluate this parameter at different flight phases. The study geometry is a lambda-shaped flying wing that has a wing with a 56-degree sweepback. The twist angle applied on wingtips is washout, which is linearly distributed along the wingspan. The study is conducted in the framework of numerical simulation and based on solving Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations by finite volume method. The simulation process was performed after validation with experimental data, for twist angles of 0 and 6 degrees and range of attack angles of 5 to 20 degrees; also, to investigate the twist performance in the range of landing and take-off phase and cruise phase, studies have been performed in two different Reynolds numbers. The results show that by applying twist, the aerodynamic efficiency is improved at high angles of attack, but this characteristic will drop significantly at the zero-degree angle of attack. Also, by applying the twist, the conditions required for longitudinal stability are satisfied, and the pitch up phenomenon will be delayed.As speed increases, aerodynamic efficiency improves over a wide range of attack angles; also, aerodynamic efficiency changes due to twist increased, and twist will be more effective. Pitch moment analysis shows that as speed increment, the degree of stability will increase, and the pitch-up behavior will improve.