Direct measurement of thrust and efficiency of an airfoil undergoing pure pitching

2015 ◽  
Vol 765 ◽  
pp. 524-543 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. W. Mackowski ◽  
C. H. K. Williamson

AbstractWe experimentally investigate the thrust and propulsive efficiency of a NACA 0012 airfoil undergoing oscillating pitching motion at a Reynolds number of $1.7\times 10^{4}$. While previous studies have computed thrust and power indirectly through measurements of momentum deficit in the object’s wake, we use a pair of force transducers to measure fluid forces directly. Our results help solidify a variety of experimental, theoretical and computational answers to this classical problem. We examine trends in propulsive performance with flapping frequency, amplitude and Reynolds number. We also examine the measured unsteady forces on the airfoil and compare them with linear theory dating from the first half of the 20th century. While linear theory significantly overpredicts the mean thrust on the foil, its prediction for the amplitude and phase of the time-varying component is surprisingly accurate. We conclude with evidence that the thrust force produced by the pitching airfoil is largely insensitive to most wake vortex arrangements.

1972 ◽  
Vol 51 (4) ◽  
pp. 687-704 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. D. George ◽  
J. D. Hellums

A general method for studying two-dimensional problems in hydrodynamic stability is presented and applied to the classical problem of predicting instability in plane Poiseuille flow. The disturbance stream function is expanded in a Fourier series in the axial space dimension which, on substitution into the Navier-Stokes equation, leads to a system of parabolic partial differential equations in the coefficient functions. An efficient, stable and accurate numerical method is presented for solving these equations. It is demonstrated that the numerical process is capable of accurate reproduction of known results from the linear theory of hydrodynamic stability.Disturbances that are stable according to linear theory are shown to become unstable with the addition of finite amplitude effects. This seems to be the first work of quantitative value for disturbances of moderate and larger amplitudes. A relationship between critical amplitude and Reynolds number is reported, the form of which indicates the existence of an absolute critical Reynolds number below which an arbitrary disturbance cannot be made unstable, no matter how large its initial amplitude. The critical curve shows significantly less effect of amplitude than do those obtained by earlier workers.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
pp. 175682931989060
Author(s):  
Dilek Funda Kurtulus

The present paper aims to investigate numerically small amplitude oscillation of NACA 0012 airfoil at Re = 1000. The airfoil is sinusoidally pitching around the quarter chord point with 1° pitch amplitude about a mean angle of attack. The computations are performed for mean angles of attack ranging from 0° to 60° and for pitching frequencies of 1 Hz and 4 Hz. The effect of the mean angle of attack and pitching frequency on the instantaneous forces as well as the vortex structure is investigated in comparison with the non-oscillatory conditions. It was shown that airfoil oscillations at the investigated conditions change the amplitude of oscillation of the aerodynamic loads. The instantaneous drag coefficient is always positive for pitching airfoil at 1 Hz. In the meantime, there are time intervals where instantaneous drag coefficient becomes negative for pitching motion at 4 Hz for mean angles of attack from 3° to 36°.


1979 ◽  
Vol 44 (3) ◽  
pp. 700-710 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivan Fořt ◽  
Hans-Otto Möckel ◽  
Jan Drbohlav ◽  
Miroslav Hrach

Profiles of the mean velocity have been analyzed in the stream streaking from the region of rotating standard six-blade disc turbine impeller. The profiles were obtained experimentally using a hot film thermoanemometer probe. The results of the analysis is the determination of the effect of relative size of the impeller and vessel and the kinematic viscosity of the charge on three parameters of the axial profile of the mean velocity in the examined stream. No significant change of the parameter of width of the examined stream and the momentum flux in the stream has been found in the range of parameters d/D ##m <0.25; 0.50> and the Reynolds number for mixing ReM ##m <2.90 . 101; 1 . 105>. However, a significant influence has been found of ReM (at negligible effect of d/D) on the size of the hypothetical source of motion - the radius of the tangential cylindrical jet - a. The proposed phenomenological model of the turbulent stream in region of turbine impeller has been found adequate for values of ReM exceeding 1.0 . 103.


2021 ◽  
Vol 62 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nils Paul van Hinsberg

Abstract The aerodynamics of smooth and slightly rough prisms with square cross-sections and sharp edges is investigated through wind tunnel experiments. Mean and fluctuating forces, the mean pitch moment, Strouhal numbers, the mean surface pressures and the mean wake profiles in the mid-span cross-section of the prism are recorded simultaneously for Reynolds numbers between 1$$\times$$ × 10$$^{5}$$ 5 $$\le$$ ≤ Re$$_{D}$$ D $$\le$$ ≤ 1$$\times$$ × 10$$^{7}$$ 7 . For the smooth prism with $$k_s$$ k s /D = 4$$\times$$ × 10$$^{-5}$$ - 5 , tests were performed at three angles of incidence, i.e. $$\alpha$$ α = 0$$^{\circ }$$ ∘ , −22.5$$^{\circ }$$ ∘ and −45$$^{\circ }$$ ∘ , whereas only both “symmetric” angles were studied for its slightly rough counterpart with $$k_s$$ k s /D = 1$$\times$$ × 10$$^{-3}$$ - 3 . First-time experimental proof is given that, within the accuracy of the data, no significant variation with Reynolds number occurs for all mean and fluctuating aerodynamic coefficients of smooth square prisms up to Reynolds numbers as high as $$\mathcal {O}$$ O (10$$^{7}$$ 7 ). This Reynolds-number independent behaviour applies to the Strouhal number and the wake profile as well. In contrast to what is known from square prisms with rounded edges and circular cylinders, an increase in surface roughness height by a factor 25 on the current sharp-edged square prism does not lead to any notable effects on the surface boundary layer and thus on the prism’s aerodynamics. For both prisms, distinct changes in the aerostatics between the various angles of incidence are seen to take place though. Graphic abstract


Aerospace ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (8) ◽  
pp. 216
Author(s):  
Emanuel A. R. Camacho ◽  
Fernando M. S. P. Neves ◽  
André R. R. Silva ◽  
Jorge M. M. Barata

Natural flight has consistently been the wellspring of many creative minds, yet recreating the propulsive systems of natural flyers is quite hard and challenging. Regarding propulsive systems design, biomimetics offers a wide variety of solutions that can be applied at low Reynolds numbers, achieving high performance and maneuverability systems. The main goal of the current work is to computationally investigate the thrust-power intricacies while operating at different Reynolds numbers, reduced frequencies, nondimensional amplitudes, and mean angles of attack of the oscillatory motion of a NACA0012 airfoil. Simulations are performed utilizing a RANS (Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes) approach for a Reynolds number between 8.5×103 and 3.4×104, reduced frequencies within 1 and 5, and Strouhal numbers from 0.1 to 0.4. The influence of the mean angle-of-attack is also studied in the range of 0∘ to 10∘. The outcomes show ideal operational conditions for the diverse Reynolds numbers, and results regarding thrust-power correlations and the influence of the mean angle-of-attack on the aerodynamic coefficients and the propulsive efficiency are widely explored.


2011 ◽  
Vol 689 ◽  
pp. 32-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
C.-K. Kang ◽  
H. Aono ◽  
C. E. S. Cesnik ◽  
W. Shyy

AbstractEffects of chordwise, spanwise, and isotropic flexibility on the force generation and propulsive efficiency of flapping wings are elucidated. For a moving body immersed in viscous fluid, different types of forces, as a function of the Reynolds number, reduced frequency (k), and Strouhal number (St), acting on the moving body are identified based on a scaling argument. In particular, at the Reynolds number regime of $O(1{0}^{3} \ensuremath{-} 1{0}^{4} )$ and the reduced frequency of $O(1)$, the added mass force, related to the acceleration of the wing, is important. Based on the order of magnitude and energy balance arguments, a relationship between the propulsive force and the maximum relative wing-tip deformation parameter ($\gamma $) is established. The parameter depends on the density ratio, St, k, natural and flapping frequency ratio, and flapping amplitude. The lift generation, and the propulsive efficiency can be deduced by the same scaling procedures. It seems that the maximum propulsive force is obtained when flapping near the resonance, whereas the optimal propulsive efficiency is reached when flapping at about half of the natural frequency; both are supported by the reported studies. The established scaling relationships can offer direct guidance for micro air vehicle design and performance analysis.


2017 ◽  
Vol 834 ◽  
pp. 5-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dorian Dupuy ◽  
Adrien Toutant ◽  
Françoise Bataille

This paper investigates the energy exchanges associated with the half-trace of the velocity fluctuation correlation tensor in a strongly anisothermal low Mach fully developed turbulent channel flow. The study is based on direct numerical simulations of the channel within the low Mach number hypothesis and without gravity. The overall flow behaviour is governed by the variable fluid properties. The temperature of the two channel walls are imposed at 293 K and 586 K to generate the temperature gradient. The mean friction Reynolds number of the simulation is 180. The analysis is carried out in the spatial and spectral domains. The spatial and spectral studies use the same decomposition of the terms of the evolution equation of the half-trace of the velocity fluctuation correlation tensor. The importance of each term of the decomposition in the energy exchanges is assessed. This lets us identify the terms associated with variations or fluctuations of the fluid properties that are not negligible. Then, the behaviour of the terms is investigated. The spectral energy exchanges are first discussed in the incompressible case since the analysis is not present in the literature with the decomposition used in this study. The modification of the energy exchanges by the temperature gradient is then investigated in the spatial and spectral domains. The temperature gradient generates an asymmetry between the two sides of the channel. The asymmetry can in a large part be explained by the combined effect of the mean local variations of the fluid properties, combined with a Reynolds number effect.


1999 ◽  
Vol 121 (3) ◽  
pp. 558-568 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. B. Kang ◽  
A. Kohli ◽  
K. A. Thole

The leading edge region of a first-stage stator vane experiences high heat transfer rates, especially near the endwall, making it very important to get a better understanding of the formation of the leading edge vortex. In order to improve numerical predictions of the complex endwall flow, benchmark quality experimental data are required. To this purpose, this study documents the endwall heat transfer and static pressure coefficient distribution of a modern stator vane for two different exit Reynolds numbers (Reex = 6 × 105 and 1.2 × 106). In addition, laser-Doppler velocimeter measurements of all three components of the mean and fluctuating velocities are presented for a plane in the leading edge region. Results indicate that the endwall heat transfer, pressure distribution, and flowfield characteristics change with Reynolds number. The endwall pressure distributions show that lower pressure coefficients occur at higher Reynolds numbers due to secondary flows. The stronger secondary flows cause enhanced heat transfer near the trailing edge of the vane at the higher Reynolds number. On the other hand, the mean velocity, turbulent kinetic energy, and vorticity results indicate that leading edge vortex is stronger and more turbulent at the lower Reynolds number. The Reynolds number also has an effect on the location of the separation point, which moves closer to the stator vane at lower Reynolds numbers.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yaomin Zhao ◽  
Richard D. Sandberg

Abstract We present the first wall-resolved high-fidelity simulations of high-pressure turbine (HPT) stages at engine-relevant conditions. A series of cases have been performed to investigate the effects of varying Reynolds numbers and inlet turbulence on the aerothermal behavior of the stage. While all of the cases have similar mean pressure distribution, the cases with higher Reynolds number show larger amplitude wall shear stress and enhanced heat fluxes around the vane and rotor blades. Moreover, higher-amplitude turbulence fluctuations at the inlet enhance heat transfer on the pressure-side and induce early transition on the suction-side of the vane, although the rotor blade boundary layers are not significantly affected. In addition to the time-averaged results, phase-lock averaged statistics are also collected to characterize the evolution of the stator wakes in the rotor passages. It is shown that the stretching and deformation of the stator wakes is dominated by the mean flow shear, and their interactions with the rotor blades can significantly intensify the heat transfer on the suction side. For the first time, the recently proposed entropy analysis has been applied to phase-lock averaged flow fields, which enables a quantitative characterization of the different mechanisms responsible for the unsteady losses of the stages. The results indicate that the losses related to the evolution of the stator wakes is mainly caused by the turbulence production, i.e. the direct interaction between the wake fluctuations and the mean flow shear through the rotor passages.


2018 ◽  
Vol 857 ◽  
pp. 345-373 ◽  
Author(s):  
Davide Gatti ◽  
Andrea Cimarelli ◽  
Yosuke Hasegawa ◽  
Bettina Frohnapfel ◽  
Maurizio Quadrio

This paper addresses the integral energy fluxes in natural and controlled turbulent channel flows, where active skin-friction drag reduction techniques allow a more efficient use of the available power. We study whether the increased efficiency shows any general trend in how energy is dissipated by the mean velocity field (mean dissipation) and by the fluctuating velocity field (turbulent dissipation). Direct numerical simulations (DNS) of different control strategies are performed at constant power input (CPI), so that at statistical equilibrium, each flow (either uncontrolled or controlled by different means) has the same power input, hence the same global energy flux and, by definition, the same total energy dissipation rate. The simulations reveal that changes in mean and turbulent energy dissipation rates can be of either sign in a successfully controlled flow. A quantitative description of these changes is made possible by a new decomposition of the total dissipation, stemming from an extended Reynolds decomposition, where the mean velocity is split into a laminar component and a deviation from it. Thanks to the analytical expressions of the laminar quantities, exact relationships are derived that link the achieved flow rate increase and all energy fluxes in the flow system with two wall-normal integrals of the Reynolds shear stress and the Reynolds number. The dependence of the energy fluxes on the Reynolds number is elucidated with a simple model in which the control-dependent changes of the Reynolds shear stress are accounted for via a modification of the mean velocity profile. The physical meaning of the energy fluxes stemming from the new decomposition unveils their inter-relations and connection to flow control, so that a clear target for flow control can be identified.


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