UHURA

UHURA performs research on predictions, experiments and handling quality assessments of unsteady aerodynamics and dynamic loads during deployment and retraction of High-Lift System with Krueger flap

Unsteady simulation of Krueger flap movement is a topic which is not well understood and requires more detailed research especially in the understanding of couplung effects of complex interactions of flow and structure. Due to its thin structural design and challenging motion path, the Krueger deployment and retraction is a simultaneous issue for both unsteady aerodynamics and for structural  dynamics. The UHURA-Project is just setup to address with this topic. The main targets are first to provide validation of numerical simulation methods for prediction of the unsteady aerodynamics and dynamic loads of Krueger movement. Second, it aims to quantify the unknown aerodynamics characteristics of slotted Krueger device during deployment and retraction with state-of-the-art approaches. Furthermore, its design is aspired to reduce  the system complexity and keep the weight below its current state-of-the-art device. Third, it aims to provide assessments of Krueger device regarding handling qualities and certification issues.

The work philosophy in this project is broken down into 3 phases:

In the first phase the aerodynamic design and the definition of Krueger devices are carried out.

In the second phase, the numerical simulation methods is to be developed;  the wind tunnel model is to be prepared and wind tunnel test campaign will be executed.  In the last phase, validation of numerical methods and assessment of the Krueger device at aircraft level are performed.

IBK-Innovation participates in all of these phases with developing the coupling tool for the fluid-structure-interaction (FSI) simulation in cooperation with CIRA, FEM-analysis of the model for wing tunnel experiment and assessment of FSI-coupling, provision of loads envelope and quantification of possible weight benefit at aircraft level. Besides, IBK is also responsible for providing database management of all project activities.

The initial starting point for this project is the airfoil DLR-F15 as well as the initial Kruger device already developed within the previous DESIREH-project and followed-up by the AFLOnext-project.

The following partners contribute to UHURA:

UHURA started in September 2018 and will last till August 2021.

This project is funded by European Union’s Horizon 2020 under the Grant Agreement No 769088.