Research on aerodynamic characteristics of high-speed elevator guide vanes based on box pufferfish biomimetic drag reduction

Abstract

The elevator technology is increasingly advancing toward higher speeds, and thus, the study on aerodynamic drag reduction has become urgent and important. This paper proposes for the first time a high-speed elevator aerodynamic drag reduction method based on the bionic design of boxfish. Through shape analysis of the boxfish, a bionic fairing model for high-speed elevators was constructed. Finally, the aerodynamic characteristics and airflow velocity of the two elevator shapes under various parameters were subjected to comparative analysis. The results show that after the flow field reached stability, the drag coefficient of the boxfish-inspired bionic flow guide model (Fs) was reduced by 71.5% compared with the traditional rectangular structure (Car), and the oscillation of aerodynamic parameters of the structure was weakened. The boxfish-inspired bionic flow guide model exerted minimal effect on the pressure and velocity distribution in the wake field, which promoted the reduction in the lateral vibration of the elevator and enabled its smooth operation. The vortex at the rear of the boxfish-inspired bionic flow guide model became shorter and more concentrated toward the center, and the Strouhal number increased by 38.5%, which led to an increased frequency of vortex shedding in the elevator wake. The drag reduction effect of the boxfish-inspired bionic flow guide model is directly proportional to the blockage ratio, reaching up to 57%, and can considerably reduce energy conversion under various inclination angles.