Wind Tunnel Investigation of Spoileron Effectiveness on a Low-Aspect-Ratio Swept Wing with Reflex Airfoils
Politecnico di Milano is undergoing the design of a highly swept, low-aspect-ratio radio-controlled aircraft with reflex airfoils. This model is necessary to expand the automated flight-testing activities conducted inside the university, adding to the flying models a more unconventional one to verify the flight-testing technique implemented. Plain-type spoilerons were investigated as primary roll control devices and compared with conventional aerodynamic predictions and wind-tunnel data. The experimental tests assessed performance across spanwise and chordwise positions, angles of attack, and spoileron geometric variations. A normalized control effectiveness parameter, accounting for moment coefficient, spoileron surface area, and moment arm, was introduced to compare configurations. Results show consistent peak performance at intermediate incidence and highlight distinct degradation patterns near stall. Spanwise variations primarily affect roll authority, while yaw response remains weakly sensitive. Geometric analysis indicates span increases are more efficient than chord increases for equivalent performance, reducing actuator loads and aerodynamic penalties.