Ground Effect Modelling Using Vortex Particle Method and Ground Panels

Modelling ground effects over fixed and moving wings is crucial for estimating aerodynamic characteristics, which change significantly near the ground. Computationally efficient methods like the Vortex Particle Method or Free Vortex Wake Method have been used to capture wakes and other flow characteristics. Ground effect has been modeled using methods like the Method of Images and panel methods. Unlike the Method of Images, which can model only plane grounds, the panel method can model arbitrary ground shapes like shipsdeck. However, there's limited literature on the accuracy of ground panels when coupled with vortex particles. In this study, we use source panels, coupled with the vortex particle method and the blade element method, to study ground effects and the accuracy of source panels in different scenarios, such as fixed-wing wake and the pitching and heaving motion of a single-wing. We validate the source panel by comparing its results with the Method of Images. The vortex particle code, accelerated using the fast multipole method, is validated with flow diagnostics such as vorticity and linear momentum, while the blade element solver is validated with analytical results for elliptic wings. We also explore using source panels to model ground effects near other arbitrary surfaces like buildings.