Control of Aerodynamic Characteristics of Thick Airfoils at Low Reynolds Numbers Using Methods of Boundary Layer Control

Abstract

The article explores flow behavior around thick airfoils at low Reynolds numbers and the potential application of energy methods to manipulate the flow field for increased lift and reduced drag. The study relies on a set of propulsion airfoils calculated using a combined approach of solving the inverse problem of aerodynamics and applying stochastic global optimization methods. The calculations consider the transition from laminar to turbulent flow regimes, which significantly affects lift and airfoil drag. The suitability of different turbulence models for airfoil modeling in low Reynolds numbers is discussed, and numerical simulation results determine the lift coefficient dependence on angle of attack and the optimal air flow rate taken from the airfoil surface for each angle of attack. The accuracy of different turbulence models is analyzed by comparing numerical simulation results to physical experiment data.

Numerical Simulation of Swept-Wing Laminar–Turbulent Flow in the Presence of Two-Dimensional Surface Reliefs

“…The accompanying high aerodynamic drag requires searching for new drag reduction techniques by developing different methods of controlling the flow structure in the boundary layers. However, a variety of existing methods of such control, including all kinds of vibrators, actuators, micro-electro-mechanical systems, riblets, large vortex break-up devices, etc., are mainly limited to two-dimensional turbulent boundary layers (see, e.g., [1][2][3][4]).…”