Curved planform wing aircraft: a view to the future

The results of the studies on a curved planform wing are discussed: these studies are based on numerical CFD analyses. Two-dimensional analyses carried out on a profile, highlighted the capability of standard unsteady aerodynamics methodologies for the estimation of buffet boundary. The curved wing configuration allows a remarkable reduction of the drag especially in the transonic regime. The curved configuration reduces the nonlinear effects of transonic aerodynamics, and as a consequence the flutter speed is postponed with respect to a conventional swept wing. Both the drag reduction and the increase in the stability margin reduce the emission of pollutant gases and reduce the structural weight of a transport aircraft. A comparison of the transonic flow structure between a conventional swept wing and a curved planform wing shows the potential characteristics of the proposed wing configuration in view of a technical application for the next generation aircrafts.