FLOW PAST 2-DIMENSIONAL MEMBRANE AEROFOILS WITH REAR SEPARATION

A method has been developed to predict the flow around two-dimensional membranes or sails with significant separation at the trailing edge. The sail is set at the design incidence, which seems appropriate for a pplications to jib sails. The theory is predictive and does not requir e any empirical input, such as base pressure. The method is composed o f three iteration levels requiring the calculation of pressure, shape and separation. The predictions are compared with new measurements on two-dimensional membranes involving separation and pressure distributi on. The theory is satisfactory for equivalent circular are cambers up to 25%.