scholarly journals Numerical simulation of flapping airfoil with alula

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 175682932097798
Author(s):  
Han Bao ◽  
Wenqing Yang ◽  
Dongfu Ma ◽  
Wenping Song ◽  
Bifeng Song
Keyword(s):  
Aerodynamic Force ◽  
Angle Of Attack ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Aerodynamic Performance ◽  
Geometric Parameters ◽  
Flight Performance ◽  
Relative Angle ◽  
Vertical Distance ◽  
Unsteady Effect ◽  
Flapping Airfoil

Bionic micro aerial vehicles have become popular because of their high thrust efficiency and deceptive appearances. Leading edge or trailing edge devices (such as slots or flaps) are often used to improve the flight performance. Birds in nature also have leading-edge devices, known as the alula that can improve their flight performance at large angles of attack. In the present study, the aerodynamic performance of a flapping airfoil with alula is numerically simulated to illustrate the effects of different alula geometric parameters. Different alula relative angles of attack β (the angle between the chord line of the alula and that of the main airfoil) and vertical distances h between the alula and the main airfoil are simulated at pre-stall and post-stall conditions. Results show that at pre-stall condition, the lift increases with the relative angle of attack and the vertical distance, but the aerodynamic performance is degraded in the presence of alula compared with no alula, whereas at post-stall condition, the alula greatly enhances the lift. However, there seems to be an optimal relative angle of attack for the maximum lift enhancement at a fixed vertical distance considering the unsteady effect, which may indicate birds can adjust the alula twisting at different spanwise positions to achieve the best flight performance. Different alula geometric parameters may affect the aerodynamic force by modifying the pressure distribution along the airfoil. The results are instructive for design of flapping-wing bionic unmanned air vehicles.

Alula-Inspired Leading Edge Device for Low Reynolds Number Flight

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Boris A. Mandadzhiev ◽  
Michael K. Lynch ◽  
Leonardo P. Chamorro ◽  
Aimy A. Wissa
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Wind Tunnel ◽  
Drag Coefficient ◽  
Lift Coefficient ◽  
Angle Of Attack ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Aerodynamic Performance ◽  
Tip Vortex ◽  
Relative Angle ◽  
Lift And Drag

Robust and predictable aerodynamic performance of unmanned aerial vehicles at the limits of their design envelope is critical for safety and mission adaptability. In order for a fixed wing aircraft to maintain the lift necessary for sustained flight at very low speeds and large angles of attack (AoA), the wing shape has to change. This is often achieved by using deployable aerodynamic surfaces, such as flaps or slats, from the wing leading or trailing edges. In nature, one such device is a feathered structure on birds’ wings called the alula. The span of the alula is 5% to 20% of the wing and is attached to the first digit of the wing. The goal of the current study is to understand the aerodynamic effects of the alula on wing performance. A series of wind tunnel experiments are performed to quantify the effect of various alula deployment parameters on the aerodynamic performance of a cambered airfoil (S1223). A full wind tunnel span wing, with a single alula located at the wing mid-span is tested under uniform low-turbulence flow at three Reynolds numbers, Re = 85,000, 106,00 and 146,000. An experimental matrix is developed to find the range of effectiveness of an alula-type device. The alula relative angle of attack measured measured from the mean chord of the airfoil is varied to modulate tip-vortex strength, while the alula deflection is varied to modulate the distance of the tip vortex to the wing surface. Lift and drag forces were measured using a six axis force transducer. The lift and drag coefficients showed the greatest sensitivity to the the alula relative angle of attack, increasing the normalized lift coefficient by as much as 80%. Improvements in lift are strongly correlated to higher alula angle, with β = 0° – 5°, while reduction in the drag coefficient is observed with higher alula tip deflection ratios and lower β angles. Results show that, as the wing angle of attack and Reynolds number are increased, the overall lift co-efficient improvement is diminished while the reduction in drag coefficient is higher.

scholarly journals Design of compliant mechanism-based variable camber morphing wing with nonlinear large deformation

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. 172988141988674 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yaqing Zhang ◽  
Wenjie Ge ◽  
Ziang Zhang ◽  
Xiaojuan Mo ◽  
Yonghong Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Large Deformation ◽  
Compliant Mechanisms ◽  
Compliant Mechanism ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Aerodynamic Performance ◽  
Flight Performance ◽  
Morphing Wing ◽  
Structure Topology ◽  
Trailing Edges ◽  
Morphing Wings

The morphing wing with large deformation can benefit its flight performance a lot in different conditions. In this study, a variable camber morphing wing with compliant leading and trailing edges is designed by large-displacement compliant mechanisms. The compliant mechanisms are carried out by a hyperelastic structure topology optimization, based on a nonlinear meshless method. A laminated leading-edge skin is designed to fit the curvature changing phenomenon of the leading edge during deformation. A morphing wing demonstrator was manufactured to testify its deformation capability. Comparing to other variable camber morphing wings, the proposal can realize larger deflection of leading and trailing edges. The designed morphing wing shows great improvement in aerodynamic performance and enough strength to resist aerodynamic and structural loadings.

Effect of Tubercles Shape on the Aerodynamic Performance of a Wind Turbine Blade Operating at Low Reynolds Number

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. S. Swasthika ◽  
Mahesh K. Varpe
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Wind Turbine ◽  
Turbine Blade ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Aerodynamic Performance ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Wind Turbine Blade ◽  
Geometric Parameters ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Blade Leading Edge

Abstract In wind turbine blade, most of the losses occurs due to aerodynamic losses in the post stall operating condition. Adoption of the blade leading edge tubercles improves the post stall aerodynamic performance. Nevertheless the geometric parameters of the protuberance play a vital role in influencing the aerodynamic performance, it is possible that shape of the protuberance may also have aerodynamic significance. In this paper different types of tubercle shapes are adopted on the blade leading edge to study the improvement in the aerodynamic performance. Each of the shape is studied for different AOA operating at Reynolds number of 3 × 105. The results revealed that the shape of the tubercles also influence the flow which affects the performances.

Nonlinear lift increase at high angles of attack for double swept waverider

2020 ◽  
Vol 34 (14n16) ◽  
pp. 2040124
Author(s):  
Chuan-Zhen Liu ◽  
Peng Bai
Keyword(s):  
Shock Wave ◽  
Mach Number ◽  
Angle Of Attack ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Lower Surface ◽  
Aerodynamic Performance ◽  
Sweep Angle ◽  
Vital Interest ◽  
High Angles Of Attack ◽  
Nonlinear Increase

The nonlinear increase of the lift of the double swept waverider at high angles of attack is of vital interest. The aerodynamic performance of the double swept waverider is calculated and compared with that of single swept waveriders. Results suggest that the lift nonlinearity of the double swept waverider is stronger than that of equal-planform-area single swept one, and the nonlinearity increases as Mach number increases. Some scholars have proposed the “vortex lift” to explain the nonlinear lift increase, but it is questionable as the main lift of the waverider comes from the lower surface rather than the upper surface. This paper proposes another explanation that the nonlinear lift increase is related to the attachment of shock wave, influenced by the leading-edge sweep angle. The shock wave is more inclined to attach under the lower surface with smaller swept than that of larger swept as angle of attack increases. When the shock wave attaches, the pressure increase via angle of attack is nonlinear, leading to the nonlinearity of lift increase.

Vortex force of an impulsively started plate at high angle of attack

2017 ◽  
Vol 27 (11) ◽  
pp. 2402-2414
Author(s):  
Xiang Fu ◽  
Gaohua Li ◽  
Fuxin Wang
Keyword(s):  
Aerodynamic Force ◽  
Angle Of Attack ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Aerodynamic Forces ◽  
Total Drag ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Vortical Structures ◽  
Edge Vortex ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose A quantitative study that can identify the primary aerodynamic forces and relate them to individual vortical structures is lacking. The paper aims to clarify the quantitative relationships between the aerodynamic forces and vortical structures. Design/methodology/approach The various contributions to the aerodynamic forces on the two-dimensional impulsively started plate are investigated from the perspective of the vorticity moment theorem. The angles of attacks are set to 45°, 58.5° and 72°, while the Reynolds number is 10,000 based on the chord length. Compared with the traditional pressure force analysis, this theorem not only tells us the total aerodynamic force during the motion, but also enables us to quantify the forces contributed from the fluid elements with non-zero vorticity. Findings It is found that the time-dependent force behaviors are dominated by the formations and evolutions of these vortical structures. The analysis of the time-averaged forces demonstrates that the lift contributed from the leading edge vortex (LEV) is nearly four times larger than the total lift and the drag contributed from the starting vortex (SV) is almost equal to the total drag when the angle of attack (AoA) increases to 72°, which means the LEV is “lift structure” whereas the SV is “drag structure”. Practical implications The present method provides a better perspective for flow control and drag reduction by relating the forces directly to the individual vorticity structures. Originality/value In this paper, the Vorticity Moment Theory is first used to study the quantitative relationships between the aerodynamic forces and the vortices.

Analysing and Optimizing the Aerodynamic Performance of Wind Turbine Blades Using Injected-Air Jets at Variable Frequency and Amplitude for Flow Control

2005 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 331-339 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liu Hong ◽  
Huo Fupeng ◽  
Chen Zuoyi
Keyword(s):  
Wind Turbine ◽  
Turbine Blade ◽  
Lift Coefficient ◽  
Turbine Blades ◽  
Angle Of Attack ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Aerodynamic Performance ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Suction Surface ◽  
Air Jet

Optimum aerodynamic performance of a wind turbine blade demands that the angle of attack of the relative wind on the blade remains at its optimum value. For turbines operating at constant speed, a change in wind speed causes the angle of attack to change immediately and the aerodynamic performance to decrease. Even with variable speed rotors, intrinsic time delays and inertia have similar effects. Improving the efficiency of wind turbines under variable operating conditions is one of the most important areas of research in wind power technology. This paper presents findings of an experimental study in which an oscillating air jet located at the leading edge of the suction surface of an aerofoil was used to improve the aerodynamic performance. The mean air-mass flowing through the jet during each sinusoidal period of oscillation equalled zero; i.e. the jet both blew and sucked. Experiments investigated the effects of the frequency, momentum and location of the jet stream, and the profile of the turbine blade. The study shows significant increase in the lift coefficient, especially in the stall region, under certain conditions. These findings may have important implications for wind turbine technology.

scholarly journals Leading edge serrations for the reduction of aerofoil self-noise at low angle of attack, pre-stall and post-stall conditions

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 130-156
Author(s):  
Giovanni Lacagnina ◽  
Paruchuri Chaitanya ◽  
Jung-Hoon Kim ◽  
Tim Berk ◽  
Phillip Joseph ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Angle Of Attack ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Aerodynamic Performance ◽  
Design Guidelines ◽  
Noise Performance ◽  
Text Design ◽  
Reduction Mechanisms ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Number Formula ◽  
High Angles Of Attack

This paper addresses the usefulness of leading edge serrations for reducing aerofoil self-noise over a wide range of angles of attack. Different serration geometries are studied over a range of Reynolds number [Formula: see text]. Design guidelines are proposed that permit noise reductions over most angles of attack. It is shown that serration geometries reduces the noise but adversely effect the aerodynamic performance suggesting that a trade-off should be sought between these two considerations. The self-noise performance of leading edge serrations has been shown to fall into three angle of attack (AoA) regimes: low angles where the flow is mostly attached, moderate angles where the flow is partially to fully separated, and high angles of attack where the flow is fully separated. Leading edge serrations have been demonstrated to be effective in reducing noise at low and high angles of attack but ineffective at moderate angles. The noise reduction mechanisms are explored in each of three angle regimes.

scholarly journals Evolution of the leading-edge vortex over a flapping wing mechanism

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 6888-6894
Author(s):  
Muhamad Ridzuan Arifin ◽  
A.F.M. Yamin ◽  
A.S. Abdullah ◽  
M.F. Zakaryia ◽  
S. Shuib ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Aerodynamic Force ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Aerodynamic Performance ◽  
Flapping Wing ◽  
Unsteady State ◽  
Leading Edge Vortex ◽  
Edge Vortex ◽  
Advance Ratio ◽  
Lift Enhancement ◽  
Lift And Drag

Leading-edge vortex governs the aerodynamic force production of flapping wing flyers. The primary factor for lift enhancement is the leading-edge vortex (LEV) that allows for stall delay that is associated with unsteady fluid flow and thus generating extra lift during flapping flight. To access the effects of LEV to the aerodynamic performance of flapping wing, the three-dimensional numerical analysis of flow solver (FLUENT) are fully applied to simulate the flow pattern. The time-averaged aerodynamic performance (i.e., lift and drag) based on the effect of the advance ratio to the unsteadiness of the flapping wing will result in the flow regime of the flapping wing to be divided into two-state, unsteady state (J<1) and quasi-steady-state(J>1). To access the benefits of aerodynamic to the flapping wing, both set of parameters of velocities 2m/s to 8m/s at a high flapping frequency of 3 to 9 Hz corresponding to three angles of attacks of α = 0o to α = 30o. The result shows that as the advance ratio increases the generated lift and generated decreases until advance ratio, J =3 then the generated lift and drag does not change with increasing advance ratio. It is also found that the change of lift and drag with changing angle of attack changes with increasing advance ratio. At low advance ratio, the lift increase by 61% and the drag increase by 98% between α =100 and α =200. The lift increase by 28% and drag increase by 68% between α = 200 and α = 300. However, at high advance ratio, the lift increase by 59% and the drag increase by 80% between α =100 and α = 200, while between α =200 and α =300 the lift increase by 20% and drag increase by 64%. This suggest that the lift and drag slope decreases with increasing advance ratio. In this research, the results had shown that in the unsteady state flow, the LEV formation can be indicated during both strokes. The LEV is the main factor to the lift enhancement where it generated the lower suction of negative pressure. For unsteady state, the LEV was formed on the upper surface that increases the lift enhancement during downstroke while LEV was formed on the lower surface of the wing that generated the negative lift enhancement. The LEV seem to breakdown at the as the wing flap toward the ends on both strokes.      

Experimental investigation of ground effects on aerodynamics of sinusoidal leading-edge wings

2020 ◽  
pp. 095440622097542
Author(s):  
AA Mehraban ◽  
MH Djavareshkian
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Investigation ◽  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Wind Tunnel ◽  
Research Study ◽  
Lift Coefficient ◽  
Angle Of Attack ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Aerodynamic Performance ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Ground Effects

Sinusoidal leading-edge wings have attracted many considerations since they can delay the stall and enhance the maneuverability. The main contribution of this research study is to experimentally investigate effects of ground on aerodynamic performance of sinusoidal leading-edge wings. To this end, 6 tubercled wings with different amplitudes and wavelengths are fabricated and compared with the baseline wing which has smooth leading-edge. Proposed wings are tested in different distances from the ground in a wind tunnel lab for a wide range of angle of attack from 0° to 36° and low Reynolds number of 45,000. Results indicated that lift coefficient is improved when wings get close to the ground. Furthermore, increment of protuberance amplitude in the vicinity of the ground could efficiently prevent stalling particularly for shorter wavelength.

scholarly journals Aerodynamic performance of a hovering hawkmoth with flexible wings: a computational approach

2011 ◽  
Vol 279 (1729) ◽  
pp. 722-731 ◽  
Author(s):  
Toshiyuki Nakata ◽  
Hao Liu
Keyword(s):  
Aerodynamic Force ◽  
Dynamic Change ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Unsteady Aerodynamics ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Aerodynamic Performance ◽  
Extensive Study ◽  
Flexible Wings ◽  
Wing Kinematics ◽  
Passive Deformation

Insect wings are deformable structures that change shape passively and dynamically owing to inertial and aerodynamic forces during flight. It is still unclear how the three-dimensional and passive change of wing kinematics owing to inherent wing flexibility contributes to unsteady aerodynamics and energetics in insect flapping flight. Here, we perform a systematic fluid-structure interaction based analysis on the aerodynamic performance of a hovering hawkmoth, Manduca , with an integrated computational model of a hovering insect with rigid and flexible wings. Aerodynamic performance of flapping wings with passive deformation or prescribed deformation is evaluated in terms of aerodynamic force, power and efficiency. Our results reveal that wing flexibility can increase downwash in wake and hence aerodynamic force: first, a dynamic wing bending is observed, which delays the breakdown of leading edge vortex near the wing tip, responsible for augmenting the aerodynamic force-production; second, a combination of the dynamic change of wing bending and twist favourably modifies the wing kinematics in the distal area, which leads to the aerodynamic force enhancement immediately before stroke reversal. Moreover, an increase in hovering efficiency of the flexible wing is achieved as a result of the wing twist. An extensive study of wing stiffness effect on aerodynamic performance is further conducted through a tuning of Young's modulus and thickness, indicating that insect wing structures may be optimized not only in terms of aerodynamic performance but also dependent on many factors, such as the wing strength, the circulation capability of wing veins and the control of wing movements.

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