• Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology
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• v.20 no.7
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• pp.1051-1058
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• 2006

The steady aerodynamic characteristics of a wing flying over a channel are investigated using a boundary-element method. The present method is validated by comparing the computed results with the measured data. Compared with a flat ground surface, the channel fence augmented the lift increase and induced drag reduction. When the fence is lower than the wing height, the gap between the wingtip and the fence does not affect the aerodynamic characteristics of the wing much. When the fence is higher than the wing height, the close gap increased the lift. The induced drag is reduced when the wing is placed near the ground or at the same height as the fence. It is believed that present results can be used in the conceptual design of the high-speed ground transporters flying over the channel.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.177-182
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• 2007

The effects of three fuselage head shapes and nonplanar ground surface on the aerodynamic characteristics of FAST fuselages are investigated using a boundary element method. Wind tunnel test is also performed to validate the present method and to identify the wall effect on the frictional drag which cannot be analyzed using the present method. It is found that the channel has an effect of increasing the lift of those investigated fuselages. The optimal head shape depends on the design conditions of the FAST and its guideway channel. Comparing the calculated induced drag with the measured total drag, it can be concluded that the profile drag is independent of the ground height. Thus, the present numerical method can be applied to the conceptual design of the high-speed ground transporters if only the profile drag of the vehicle in free flight is assumed to be known.