An experimental investigation has been undertaken to determine the influence of sinusoidal leading-edge protrusions on the performance of two NACA airfoils with different aerodynamic characteristics. Force measurements on full-span airfoils with various combinations of tubercle amplitude and wavelength reveal that when compared to the unmodified equivalent, tubercles are more beneficial for the NACA 65-021 airfoil than the NACA 0021 airfoil. It was also found that for both airfoil profiles, reducing the tubercle amplitude leads to a higher maximum lift coefficient and larger stall angle. In the poststall regime, however, the performance with largeramplitude tubercles is more favorable. Reducing the wavelength leads to improvements in all aspects of lift performance, including maximum lift coefficient, stall angle, and poststall characteristics. Nevertheless, there is a certain point at which further reduction in wavelength has a negative impact on performance. The results also suggest that tubercles act in a manner similar to conventional vortex generators.

Performance Variations of Leading-Edge Tubercles for Distinct Airfoil Profiles

: The humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) is exceptional among the large baleen whales in its ability to undertake aquabatic maneuvers to catch prey. Humpback whales utilize extremely mobile, wing-like flippers for banking and turning. Large rounded tubercles along the leading edge of the flipper are morphological structures that are unique in nature. The tubercles on the leading edge act as passive-flow control devices that improve performance and maneuverability of the flipper. Experimental analysis of finite wing models has demonstrated that the presence of tubercles produces a delay in the angle of attack until stall, thereby increasing maximum lift and decreasing drag. Possible fluid-dynamic mechanisms for improved performance include delay of stall through generation of a vortex and modification of the boundary layer, and increase in effective span by reduction of both spanwise flow and strength of the tip vortex. The tubercles provide a bio-inspired design that has commercial viability for wing-like structures. Control of passive flow has the advantages of eliminating complex, costly, high-maintenance, and heavy control mechanisms, while improving performance for lifting bodies in air and water. The tubercles on the leading edge can be applied to the design of watercraft, aircraft, ventilation fans, and windmills.

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The Tubercles on Humpback Whales' Flippers: Application of Bio-Inspired Technology

P REVIOUS studies on increasing airfoil lift and improving stall characteristics have addressed various passive and active approaches to modifying the leading and trailing edge shapes. The passive approaches have covered such methods as rippling the trailing edge, applying serrated-edge Gurney flaps, or modifying the leading-edge (LE) profile [1,2]. Other efforts have effectively eliminated the dynamic stall of an NACA 0012 airfoil by perturbing the LE contour as little as 0.5–0.9%of the chord [3]. Levshin et al. [4] demonstrated that sinusoidal LE planforms on an NACA 63-021 airfoil section decreased maximum lift, but extended the stall angle by almost 9 deg. The larger amplitude sinusoids created “softer” stall characteristics by maintaining attached flow at the peaks despite separated flow in the troughs. These tests were performed to simulate the effects of LE tubercles on humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) flippers. Prior work by the authors also reported wind tunnel measurements for idealized scale models of humpback whale flippers [5]. One model had a smooth leading edge and a secondmodel had sinusoidal bumps (tubercles) along the leading edge for the outer 2 3 of the span. It was found that the addition of tubercles to a 3-D idealized flipper increased the maximum lift coefficient while reducing the drag coefficient over a portion of the operational envelope. It is thought that the tubercles on the flipper leading-edge enhance the whale’s ability to maneuver to catch prey [6]. Though the work to date regarding sinusoidal or serrated leading-edge planforms is largely motivated by marine mammal locomotion, the effects of extending the stall point for lifting surfaces at similar Reynolds numbers (Re) may have application to small-UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) design and the inevitable laminar stall problems [7]. However other relevant applications might benefit from the effects of simulated tubercles such as stall alleviation/separation control on sailboat centerboards or wind turbines, where an expanded operating envelope could improve the overall effectiveness of the blade [8,9]. In the present work, a better understanding is sought of the mechanism of the improvements measured in previous experiments, with a greater applicability in mind. The authors seek to determine whether the performance improvements resulted from enhancements to the sectional characteristics of wings with tubercles (i.e., essentially 2-D effects), or from Reynolds number effects on a tapered planform, or from other 3-D effects such as spanwise stall progression.

Experimental Evaluation of Sinusoidal Leading Edges

The ability to control the flow of water around the body dictates the performance of marine mammals in the aquatic environment. Morphological specializations of marine mammals afford mechanisms for passive flow control. Aside from the design of the body, which minimizes drag, the morphology of the appendages provides hydrodynamic advantages with respect to drag, lift, thrust, and stall. The flukes of cetaceans and sirenians and flippers of pinnipeds possess geometries with flexibility, which enhance thrust production for high efficiency swimming. The pectoral flippers provide hydrodynamic lift for maneuvering. The design of the flippers is constrained by performance associated with stall. Delay of stall can be accomplished passively by modification of the flipper leading edge. Such a design is exhibited by the leading edge tubercles on the flippers of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae). These novel morphological structures induce a spanwise flow field of separated vortices alternating with regions of accelerated flow. The coupled flow regions maintain areas of attached flow and delay stall to high angles of attack. The delay of stall permits enhanced turning performance with respect to both agility and maneuverability. The morphological features of marine mammals for flow control can be utilized in the biomimetic design of engineered structures for increased power production and increased efficiency.

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Hydrodynamic flow control in marine mammals

An aerofoil leading-edge prole based on wavy (sinusoidal) protuberances/tubercles is investigated to understand the mechanisms by which they are able to reduce the noise produced through the interaction with turbulent mean flow. Numerical simulations are performed for non-lifting at-plate aerofoils with straight and wavy leading edges (de- noted by SLE and WLE, respectively) subjected to impinging turbulence that is synthetically generated in the upstream zone (freestream Mach number of 0.24). Full three-dimensional Euler (inviscid) solutions are computed for this study thereby eliminating self-noise components. A high-order accurate nite-dierence method and artefact-free boundary conditions are used in the current simulations. Various statistical analysis methods, including frequency spectra, are implemented to aid the understanding of the noise-reduction mechanisms. It is found with WLEs, unlike the SLE, that the surface pressure fluctuations along the leading edge exhibit a signicant source cut-o eect due to geometric obliqueness which leads to reduced levels of radiated sound pressure. It is also found that there exists a phase interference eect particularly prevalent between the peak and the hill centre of the WLE geometry, which contributes to the noise reduction in the mid- to high-frequency range.

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On the reduction of aerofoil-turbulence interaction noise associated with wavy leading edges

Lift, drag, and pitching moments of airfoils with leading-edge sinusoidal protuberances were measured in a water tunnel and compared with those of a baseline 63 4 -021 airfoil. The amplitude of the leading-edge protuberances ranged from 2.5 to 12% of the mean chord length; the spanwise wavelengths were 25 and 50% of the mean chord length. These ranges correspond to the morphology found on the leading edge of humpback whales' flippers. Flow visualization using tufts was also performed to examine the separation characteristics of the airfoils. For angles of attack less than the baseline stall angle, lift reduction and drag increase were observed for the modified foils. Above this angle, lift of the modified foils was up to 50% greater than the baseline foil with little or no drag penalty. The amplitude of the protuberances had a distinct effect on the performance of the airfoils, whereas the wavelength had little. Flow visualization indicated separated flow originating primarily from the troughs and attached flow on the peaks of the protuberances at angles beyond the stall angle of the baseline foil.

Effects of Leading-Edge Protuberances on Airfoil Performance

Effects of Leading Edge Protuberances on Airfoil Performance

Effects of a Line Vortex on a Round Parachute Canopy

5 were used. Flow visualization using dye indicated that the vortex core broke down when the core was in the vicinity of the canopy lip or within the canopy opening. Vortex breakdown occurred at least one canopy (projected) diameter upstream of the canopy opening. The vortex core completely disintegrated as the vortex core approached the forebody. The vortex breakdown and disintegration caused significant deformations on the canopy surface. A reduction in the time averaged drag and an increase in the fluctuating drag was observed when the vortex core was within the canopy opening. The disintegration of the vortex core near the canopy centerline, due to the interaction with the forebody, removed the effects brought about the presence of the coherent core.

Alexandra Levshin

Papers

Effects of Leading-Edge Protuberances on Airfoil Performance

Effects of Leading Edge Protuberances on Airfoil Performance

Effects of a Line Vortex on a Round Parachute Canopy

Deformation of a Round Parachute Canopy due to a Line Vortex