Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.17559/TV-20131210105304

Aerodynamic investigation of the deformable membrane airfoil with excess length

Igor Petrović ; Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Aškerčeva 6, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Franc Kosel ; Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Aškerčeva 6, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Viktor Šajn ; Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Aškerčeva 6, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia

Abstract

The deformable membrane airfoils (DMA) are considered in the present paper, which could be potentially used on a new class of modern Micro Aerial Vehicles for their compact and lightweight form. Numerical simulations of low Reynolds number airflow around the DMA with excess length were performed and compared with the results obtained in the experiment. The aerodynamic performance was studied using a fluid-structure interaction between the DMA with excess length and the surrounding fluid flow. Fluid part was solved using Reynolds averaged Navier – Stokes (RANS) equations and applying the resulting pressure distribution to the airfoil. Experiment was performed in the low-turbulence wind tunnel with a model of an airfoil made from a deformable membrane with excess length, fixed at the leading and trailing edge. Measurements were obtained for the predetermined range of excess length ratio (0,025 to 0,150) and angle of incidence (0° to 15°), and showed a reasonable agreement with the numerical results with smallest discrepancies at 1,8 %. Investigation of the excess length shows that it could increase longitudinal stability of the airfoil in the non-oscillating regime, compared to standard rigid airfoils.

Keywords

deformable membrane airfoil; experimental validation; fluid-structure interaction; RANS simulation

Hrčak ID:

139739

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/139739

Publication date:

15.6.2015.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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