Rinku Mukherjee

Bio: Rinku Mukherjee is an academic researcher from Indian Institute of Technology Madras. The author has contributed to research in topics: Airfoil & Aerodynamics. The author has an hindex of 5, co-authored 31 publications receiving 147 citations. Previous affiliations of Rinku Mukherjee include North Carolina State University.

Investigation of Flow Separation Lines Over a Finite Wing

Abstract: Flow over airfoil is extensively studied to identify point of flow separation, transition, re-attachment (formation of laminar separation bubble), and to understand relation between aerodynamic forces generated by airfoil with change in angles of attack Extension of flow separation concept to finite wing is not straight forward as flow has an additional degree of freedom to move when it detaches from surface of wing A preliminary investigation of location of flow separation lines over finite wings is carried out using numerical simulations in ANSYS (FLUENT)

A Numerical Study of Tandem Pitching Airfoils

Abstract: A lumped vortex model coupled with a vortex dissipation and vortex core criteria is used to study the unsteady flow past tandem pitching airfoils. The unsteady wakes of both airfoils are modeled by discrete vortices and time-stepping is used to predict the individual wake shapes. The coupled flow is solved using a combined “zero-normal flow” boundary condition and Kelvin condition which results in (2N+2)X(2N+2) equations. Commercial software FLUENT is also used to study the flow tandem pitching airfoils. Results are presented showing the effect of airfoil-airfoil and airfoil-wake interaction on the aerodynamic characteristics of the tandem airfoils pitching in or out of phase and also when only the leading airfoil pitches and the trailing airfoil is stationary.

Experimental and computational investigations of aerodynamic characteristics of a finite rectangular wing-in-ground effect

Abstract: Wind tunnel experiments are carried out on a 3D wing-in-ground effect at pre- and post-stall angles of attack at a relatively low Reynolds number, Re ≈ 8.8 × 104. The rectangular wing, aspect ratio, AR = 6.4 used in the present work has a symmetric airfoil section, NACA0012 and is studied at different ranges of ground proximity and also compared to a wing of cambered airfoil section, NACA4415 not in ground proximity. Unsteady and time-averaged six-component aerodynamic characteristics, coefficients of Lift, Drag, Side forces, Pitch, Roll, Yaw moments at several angles of attack in the range – 8° < α < 18° are reported. Aerodynamic efficiency and drag polars are studied in lieu of ground proximity at several angles of attack. Effect of ground proximity on the occurrence of stall and C L max is studied. Numerical calculations using steady-state CFD are also made for quantitative comparison. The effect of ground proximity on span-wise pressure distribution and induced velocity in the vicinity of the wing is also discussed in detail.

Unsteady 3D Post-Stall Aerodynamics Accounting for Effective Loss in Camber Due to Flow Separation

Abstract: The current study couples a quasi-steady Vortex Lattice Method and a camber correcting technique, ‘Decambering’ for unsteady post-stall flow prediction. The wake is force-free and discrete such that the wake lattices move with the free-stream once shed from the wing. It is observed that the time-averaged unsteady coefficient of lift sees a relative drop at post-stall angles of attack in comparison to its steady counterpart for some angles of attack. Multiple solutions occur at post-stall and three different algorithms to choose solutions in these regimes show both unsteadiness and non-convergence of the iterations. The distribution of coefficient of lift on the wing span also shows sawtooth. Distribution of vorticity changes both along span and in the direction of the free-stream as the wake develops over time with distinct roll-up, which increases with time. Keywords—Post-stall, unsteady, wing, aerodynamics.

Prediction of Post-Stall Aerodynamic Characteristics of wing(s) with separated flow modeled as a Single Nascent Vortex

Abstract: A numerical iterative vortex lattice method is developed for post-stall flow past wing(s) where the separated flow is modeled using NY nascent vortex filaments. The wing itself is modeled using NX×NY bound vortex rings, where NX and NY are the number of sections along the chord and span of the wing respectively. The strength and position of the nascent vortex along the chord corresponding to the local effective angle of attack are evaluated from the residuals in viscous and potential flow, i.e. (Cl)visc − (Cl)pot and (Cm)visc − (Cm)pot. Hence, the 2D airfoil viscous Cl − α and Cm − α is required as input (from experiment, numerical analysis or CFD). Aerodynamic characteristics and section distribution along span are predicted for 3D wings at post-stall angles of attack. Effect of initial conditions and existence of multiple solutions in the post-stall region is studied. Results are validated with experiment.

Discrete-vortex method with novel shedding criterion for unsteady aerofoil flows with intermittent leading-edge vortex shedding

Abstract: Unsteady aerofoil flows are often characterized by leading-edge vortex (LEV) shedding. While experiments and high-order computations have contributed to our understanding of these flows, fast low-order methods are needed for engineering tasks. Classical unsteady aerofoil theories are limited to small amplitudes and attached leading-edge flows. Discrete-vortex methods that model vortex shedding from leading edges assume continuous shedding, valid only for sharp leading edges, or shedding governed by ad-hoc criteria such as a critical angle of attack, valid only for a restricted set of kinematics. We present a criterion for intermittent vortex shedding from rounded leading edges that is governed by a maximum allowable leading-edge suction. We show that, when using unsteady thin aerofoil theory, this leading-edge suction parameter (LESP) is related to the term in the Fourier series representing the chordwise variation of bound vorticity. Furthermore, for any aerofoil and Reynolds number, there is a critical value of the LESP, which is independent of the motion kinematics. When the instantaneous LESP value exceeds the critical value, vortex shedding occurs at the leading edge. We have augmented a discrete-time, arbitrary-motion, unsteady thin aerofoil theory with discrete-vortex shedding from the leading edge governed by the instantaneous LESP. Thus, the use of a single empirical parameter, the critical-LESP value, allows us to determine the onset, growth, and termination of LEVs. We show, by comparison with experimental and computational results for several aerofoils, motions and Reynolds numbers, that this computationally inexpensive method is successful in predicting the complex flows and forces resulting from intermittent LEV shedding, thus validating the LESP concept.

Nonlinear-Aerodynamics/Nonlinear-Structure Interaction Methodology for a High-Altitude Long-Endurance Wing

Abstract: Nonlinear aeroelastic analysis is essential for high-altitude long-endurance (HALE) aircraft. In the current paper, we have presented a computational aeroelastic tool for nonlinear-aerodynamics/nonlinear-structure interaction. Specifically, a consistent nonlinear time-domain aeroelastic methodology has been integrated via tightly coupling a geometrically exact nonlinear intrinsic beam model and the generalized unsteady vortex-lattice aerodynamic model with vortex roll-up and free wake. The effects of discrete gust as well as flow separation at various angles of attack from attached flow to the stall and poststall ranges are also included in the nonlinear aerodynamic model. A HALE-wing model is analyzed as a numerical example. The trim angle of attack is first found for the wing, and the results show that aeroelastic instability could occur at higher angles of attack. The HALE-wing model under the trim condition is then analyzed for various gust profiles to which it is subject. It is found that for certain gust levels, the elastic deformations of the HALE wing tend to become unstable: notably, the in-plane deflections become very significant. It is noted for the unstable solution of the HALE wing that the flow may be well beyond the stall range. An engineering approach with the use of the nonlinear sectional lift is attempted to consider such stall effects.

Assessment of Wake-Tail Interference Effects on the Dynamics of Flexible Aircraft

Abstract: This work investigates the effect of aerodynamic interference in the coupled nonlinear aeroelasticity and flight mechanics of flexible lightweight aircraft at low speeds. For that purpose, a geometrically exact composite-beam formulation is used to model the vehicle flexible-body dynamics by means of an intuitive and easily linearizable representation based on the displacement and Cartesian rotation vectors. The aerodynamics are modeled using the unsteady vortex-lattice method, which captures the instantaneous shape of the lifting surfaces and the free inviscid wake, including large deformations and interference effects. This results in a framework for simulation of high aspect ratio planes that provides a medium-fidelity representation of flexible-aircraft dynamics with a modest computational cost. Previous independent studies on the structural-dynamics and aerodynamics modules are complemented here with the integrated simulation methodology, including vehicle trim, and linear and nonlinear time-domain solutions. A numerical investigation is next presented on a simple wing-fuselage-tail configuration, assessing the interference effects between wing wake and horizontal tail, and the downwash due to the proximity of the wake is shown to play a significant role in the longitudinal dynamics of the vehicle. Finally, a brief discussion of direct wake-tail encounters is included to show the limitations of the approach.