A Method for Calculating the Induced Pressure Distribution Associated with a Jet in a Crossflow

A model is presented which can be used to study the loss of lift during hovering and horizontal flight of the VTOL aircraft. The model numerically predicts the pressure distribution induced by a round, turbulent, unheated, subsonic jet exhausting normally through a flat plate into a subsonic crossflow. The complete model assumes that the predominant features of the flow are jet entrainment and a pair of contrarotating vortices which form downstream of the jet. Experimentally determined vortex properties and a reasonable assumption concerning jet entrainment were used. Potential flow considerations were used except in the wake region, where a simple method for approximating the pressure distribution was suggested. The calculated pressure distribution, lift, and pitching moments on the flat plate are presented for a jet to crossflow velocity ratio of 8 and were compared with experimental results. A computer program is given which was used to calculate the pressure distribution across the flat plate.