HINVA - High lift INflight VAlidation - Project Overview and Status

The objective of the joint research project HINVA is to significantly enhance the accuracy and reliability of the prediction and assessment of the aerodynamic performance of civil aircraft with deployed high lift devices. To achieve this goal the most advanced numerical and experimental simulation methods currently in industrial use are to be validated against flight test data focusing on the maximum lift regime. The project is building up on experiences and findings gained in related European project like EUROLIFT and of GARTEUR studies. DLR’s flight test aircraft Airbus A320-200 ATRA serves as a common configurative basis for the three methodology areas flight test, high Re-No testing in the European Transonic Windtunnel ETW, and numerical simulation using DLR’s TAU code. The baseline device setting corresponds to the landing configuration. Also the cruise configuration is investigated. A core element of the project is the generation of a dedicated fully harmonized validation database consisting of wind tunnel and corresponding flight test data. Using the unique advantages of all three methodology areas in a synergetic way allows to determine qualitatively as well as quantitatively the dominant aerodynamic phenomena in the maximum lift regime for such type of aircraft. The findings will feed a new simulation strategy for the use and application of numerical tools as well as cryogenic testing to determine maximum lift in terms of lift coefficient and angle of attack within accuracy margins of the industrial high lift design process. The project is subdivided into three main workpackages: ATRA flight test, ETW wind tunnel test, and CFD simulations. The specification of the baseline geometry and the CAD models is widely finished. Comprehensive numerical simulations have been carried out to support the flight test instrumentation. The flight test planning and development of the flight test instrumentation is in progress in a close workshare between Airbus and DLR to prepare the first flight test campaign.