Numerical and experimental Aerodynamic investigation of airplane Wings with leading edge tubercles

Abstract

On the observation of biomimetic of Humpback Whale flipper, the newlineaerodynamic performance characteristics are explored. This research work provides newlinedetailed insights on the influence of Leading Edge (LE) tubercles of Humpback newlineWhale (HW) as it is incorporated over symmetric and cambered airfoil profiles at newlinelow Reynolds number. The LE tubercle geometry was inspired by the flipper of newlineHW that has rounded LE protuberances and tapered trailing edge configurations. newlineThis HW is one of the bio-inspired marine mammal species which is the most newlineacrobatic of baleen whales, capable of performing high manoeuvres in the newlineunderwater environment. The aim of the study is to investigate the effect of LE newlinetubercles at the pre-stall and post-stall regimes of aerodynamic surfaces through newlinenumerical and experimental approach. The work undertaken herein is to determine newlinethe performance of rectangular and swept back wing profiles with and without LE newlinetubercles regarding the characteristics such as flow control, stall, influence of newlinecounter-rotating vortices, and boundary layer separation. newlineThe implementation of tubercles at the LE of an airfoil leads to the formation newlineof counter-rotating pairs of streamwise vortices between the tubercle peaks (i.e.), newlinetrough region. In the course of computational investigation, streamline and wall newlineshear patterns have indicated the zone (peak, mid, trough) of flow separation and reattachment newlineover the tubercled wing configuration. Further, at higher Angle of newlineAttack (AoA) the flow separation is delayed in the peak region whereas the early newlineflow separation is observed in the trough region adjacent to the LE. The vortex newlinestrength leads to significant momentum exchange into the flow and keeps the flow newlineremains attached. This momentum exchange is a crucial reason for the boundary newlinelayer transition from laminar to turbulent. Extensive boundary layer separation newlineanalysis has been done numerically through the velocity vector profiles at different newlinechordwise positions. newline