In-Ground Aerodynamic Performance of a BiplaneWing Configuration with Varying Gap and Stagger

This study investigates the in-ground aerodynamic performance of a biplane wing configuration with systematically varied gap and stagger settings. Because ground effect can enhance lift production and improve aerodynamic efficiency, understanding how these geometric parameters influence the behavior of a biplane near the ground is important for the early stages of design. Computational simulations were performed using commercially available CFD software to evaluate the lift, drag, and overall aerodynamic efficiency of multiple configurations under both out-of-ground (OGE) and in-ground (IGE) conditions. The analysis examines the aerodynamic response across a range of ground clearances from 0.1 to 0.6 height to average chord ratio, along with several gap-stagger combinations. Results show that gap variations between 0.375 and 0.6 height to average chord ratio produce minimal changes in aerodynamic performance, while stagger primarily affects the lift distribution between the upper and lower wings. A notable increase in lift and a corresponding decrease in drag was observed near 0.2 height to average chord ratio, consistent with characteristic ground effect behavior. These findings serve as an initial assessment for the ongoing research of biplane wing configuration, which will be followed by further simulations and validations.