Numerical study on effect of boundary layer trips on aerodynamic performance of E216 airfoil

Simulation is carried out to find the performance of airfoil E216 using Transition γ-Reθ model at Reynolds number of 100,000. Flow behaviour and effect of angle of attack (AOA) on laminar separation bubble (LSB) formation are examined. The results are validated with wind tunnel experimental results....

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: B.K. Sreejith, A. Sathyabhama
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2018-02-01
Series:Engineering Science and Technology, an International Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2215098617315665
Description
Summary:Simulation is carried out to find the performance of airfoil E216 using Transition γ-Reθ model at Reynolds number of 100,000. Flow behaviour and effect of angle of attack (AOA) on laminar separation bubble (LSB) formation are examined. The results are validated with wind tunnel experimental results. LSB formation is clearly spotted in the velocity vector plot and coefficient of pressure distribution over airfoil. LSB moved upstream towards the leading edge with increase in AOA. Effect of boundary layer trip on LSB formation over the airfoil and performance of airfoil are studied. Two different trip locations, 17% of chord and 10% of chord from leading edge, and different trip heights (0.3 mm, 0.5 mm, 0.7 mm, 1 mm) are investigated in this study. Results showed that boundary layer trip could eliminate LSB partially or completely and improve aerodynamic performance of the airfoil. Maximum improvement in drag by 15.48% and lift to drag ratio by 21.62% are obtained at angle of attack of 60. In all the cases, improvement in performance is observed only up to trip height of 0.5 mm.
ISSN:2215-0986