Numerical and Experimental Analysis of a NACA Shaped Fuselage of a Civil Aircraf Université de Liège

Abstract

This work investigates the aerodynamic performance of a non-conventional fuselage geometry and compares it against a conventional long-range airliner fuselage. Both configurations share identical wings and empennage, so that the comparison isolates the fuselage contribution. Three complementary approaches are used, namely subsonic wind tunnel testing, subsonic CFD, and transonic CFD, all performed with Simcenter STAR-CCM+. The study shows that the aerodynamic behaviour of the two configurations differs significantly depending on the flow regime considered. The physical mechanisms responsible for these differences are identified and discussed for each regime. The results highlight both the potential and the limitations of non-conventional fuselage shaping as an aerodynamic design strategy, and open directions for future geometric and methodological improvements.