Preliminary transonic CFD analyses of a PrandtlPlane transport aircraft

In the framework of the PARSIFAL research project, funded by the European Community in the Horizon 2020 program, the PrandtlPlane (PrP) configuration has been proposed as an innovative alternative to the current commercial aircraft of conventional architecture; the PrP configuration development is presented in order to satisfy the future air traffic growing requirements with better performances than conventional one, in terms of fuel efficiency, safety, pollution and noise emissions. In this paper a preliminary aerodynamic investigation of the transonic behaviour of the PrP wing system is presented; this study has been carried out by means of CFD analyses, with the aim to collect relevant information and to detect the proper design and operative space, fundamental for the following aerodynamic design activity of the aircraft. Investigations have been made on macro parameters (like wing loading or cruise Mach number) and also on local critical issues. The results obtained allows to design some initial reference configurations with satisfactory cruise performance in this very initial stage of the design process.