Analysis of wing flap configurations by a nonplanar vortex lattice method

A nonplanar vortex lattice method is described for calculating the potential flow aerodynamic characteristics of complex planforms, with an emphasis on wings with spanwise segmented partial-span flaps. A new technique has been developed for proper modeling of flow in the region between the flap edges and the wing in the case of part-span flaps. The effects of compressibility have been accounted for by the use of the Prandtl-Glauert rule with no approximation being made regarding freestream incidence, wing camber, and flap deflection. The method has been tested for a number of cases to assess its utility