Skin-friction topology over a surface mounted semi-ellipsoidal wing at incidence

Flow visualization methods have been used to study the skin-friction topology of a 12:6:1 semi-ellipsoid wing at incidence intersecting a plane wall. Results were obtained for incidences from 0 to 25 deg in 5 deg increments. Major changes in the topology demarcate divisions between general ranges designated as follows: symmetry, low, intermediate, and high incidences. As a function of incidence, the topological evolution is influenced by both three-dimensional pressure gradients and transition to turbulence. A slight twist in the experimental model suggests that the topology and associated separation modes (singular vs nonsingular) are highly sensitive to slight geometric asymmetries