Effect of airfoil shape and Reynolds number on leading edge vortex shedding in unsteady flows

Ramesh, K. , Ke, J., Gopalarathnam, A. and Edwards, J. R. (2012) Effect of airfoil shape and Reynolds number on leading edge vortex shedding in unsteady flows. In: 30th AIAA Applied Aerodynamics Conference, New Orleans, LA, USA, 25-28 Jun 2012, (doi: 10.2514/6.2012-3025)

Abstract

Leading edge vortex (LEV) formation, which is initiated by separation at the leading edge, depends on airfoil shape, Reynolds number, rate of translation/rotation, amplitude of motion and the pitch axis location. The Leading Edge Suction Parameter (LESP) derived from inviscid theory, serves to predict the onset LEV formation for any unsteady motion using a critical value that depends on the airfoil shape and Reynolds number of operation. In this paper, the critical LESP value is determined for different airfoils over a range of Reynolds numbers. The SD7003 airfoil was used as a baseline and modified airfoils were derived by altering the leading edge radius, keeping maximum thickness unchanged. Increasing the leading edge radius resulted in higher critical LESP values, demonstrating that separation is delayed for flow over a more rounded leading edge since it can support more suction. The effect of Reynolds number was more complicated, with the critical LESP decreasing from Re = 5,000 to Re = 100,000, and increasing after. Hence conditions which promote and suppress leading edge vortex formation were identified, and the critical LESP values were made available over a broad range of parameters, which can be used for low-order prediction and modeling of complicated, vortex-dominated flows.

• Item Type: Conference Proceedings
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Ramesh, Dr Kiran
• Authors: Ramesh, K., Ke, J., Gopalarathnam, A., and Edwards, J. R.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Autonomous Systems and Connectivity

Project Code	Award No	Project Name	Principal Investigator	Funder's Name	Funder Ref	Lead Dept
	9550	Theoretical, Computational, and Experimental Studies of the Aerodynamics of Perching Flight	Dr. Ashok Gopalarathnam	AFOSR	UNSPECIFIED