Numerical Investigation of a Naca Air Intake for a Canard Type Aircraft

The present work aims to investigate the implementation of a new air intake on a canard type aircraft, through efficiency and drag calculations using a commercial CFD code. Preliminary semi-empirical studies proved that the NACA air inlet was the best option available since it reduces aerodynamic drag. Later, a set of numerical studies were performed with the air intake mounted on a flat plate (theory check) and in the aircraft's fuselage, in order to check the effect of the incoming flow disturbed by the fuselage. These simulations were performed using Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) and turbulence modeling. Data analyses were based on the air inlets efficiency, drag, velocity profiles and the effect of the fuselage's curvature. The results confirmed that the NACA air intake has satisfactory performance, especially in reducing drag, and led to further considerations about the design of the aircraft in terms of sizing the air intakes. Also, the approach applied in this work was considered to be a methodology for new design implementation and/or selection. The CFD results have been corroborated by an empirical approach from the ESDU (Engineering Science Database Unit). This study was part of collaboration between the Brazilian Aircraft Factory (FABE) and the Federal University of Uberlândia (UFU).