Reynolds number effects on the vortical-flow structure generated by a double-delta wing

An experimental investigation of the high-incidence vortical flowfield over a 76/40° double-delta wing model with sharp leading edges was conducted in the Naval Postgraduate School water tunnel facility at three nominal flow Reynolds numbers of 15000, 45000, and 75000 (based on centerline chord). Extensive flow visualization studies were performed with the dye-injection technique, followed by laser Doppler velocity measurements. The primary objective of this investigation was the determination of the influence of Reynolds number on vortex interactions/trajectories, and breakdown. It was found that there is a significant influence of Reynolds number. Specifically, with the increase of flow Reynolds number the strake and wing vortex trajectories tend to move outboards and closer to the model surface, and the vortex breakdown location moves forwards toward the apex of the model. The intertwining or coiling-up feature of the vortex interaction phenomenon becomes less dominant and disappears altogether at high Reynolds numbers. These trends in the vortex interaction and bursting data are found to be in good agreement with previous wind tunnel data. Received: 26 March 1998/Accepted: 2 February 1999     

Reynolds number effects on leading edge vortex development on a waving wing

The waving wing experiment is a fully three-dimensional simplification of the flapping wing motion observed in nature. The spanwise velocity gradient and wing starting and stopping acceleration that exist on an insect-like flapping wing are generated by rotational motion of a finite span wing. The flow development around a waving wing at Reynolds number between 10,000 and 60,000 has been studied using flow visualization and high-speed PIV to capture the unsteady velocity field. Lift and drag forces have been measured over a range of angles of attack, and the lift curve shape was similar in all cases. A transient high-lift peak approximately 1.5 times the quasi-steady value occurred in the first chord length of travel, caused by the formation of a strong attached leading edge vortex. This vortex appears to develop and shed more quickly at lower Reynolds numbers. The circulation of the leading edge vortex has been measured and agrees well with force data.     

Investigation on vortex shedding of a swept-back wing

Effects of Reynolds number and angle of attack on the vortex shedding of a finite swept-back wing are experimentally studied. The cross-sectional profile of the wing is NACA 0012, and the sweep-back angle is 15° The time series signals detected by hot-wire in the wake region shows four distinct behaviors: laminar, subcritical, transitional, and supercritical. The derived Strouhal number curves are significantly different in these four behaviors. In addition, the statistical properties of turbulence, that is, the power spectrum density function, probability density function, correlation coefficient, Lagrangian integral time scales, and length scales are also presented in this paper.     

双三角翼拉升流场特性数值模拟研究

发展了适用于双三角翼大攻角非定常分离流场模拟的数值方法,开展双三角翼拉升运动的动态流场特性研究。通过减缩频率、转轴位置和起始攻角的变化,仔细分析了这些运动参数对动态流场施加影响的物理机制,有利于提高对双三角翼在拉升条件下的非定常特性和流场滞后效应等非线性现象的认识。     

Effects of a trapped vortex cell on a thick wing airfoil

The effects of a trapped vortex cell (TVC) on the aerodynamic performance of a NACA0024 wing model were investigated experimentally at Re = 10⁶ and 6.67×10⁵6.67\times 10^{5}. The static pressure distributions around the model and the wake velocity profiles were measured to obtain lift and drag coefficients, for both the clean airfoil and the controlled configurations. Suction was applied in the cavity region to stabilize the trapped vortex. For comparison, a classical boundary layer suction configuration was also tested. The drag coefficient curve of the TVC-controlled airfoil showed sharp discontinuities and bifurcative behavior, generating two drag modes. A strong influence of the angle of attack, the suction rate and the Reynolds number on the drag coefficient was observed. With respect to the clean airfoil, the control led to a drag reduction only if the suction was high enough. Compared to the classical boundary layer suction configuration, the drag reduction was higher for the same amount of suction only in a specific range of incidence, i.e., α = −2° to α = 6° and only for the higher Reynolds number. For all the other conditions, the classical boundary layer suction configuration gave better drag performances. Moderate increments of lift were observed for the TVC-controlled airfoil at low incidence, while a 20% lift enhancement was observed in the stall region with respect to the baseline. However, the same lift increments were also observed for the classical boundary layer suction configuration. Pressure fluctuation measurements in the cavity region suggested a very complex interaction of several flow features. The two drag modes were characterized by typical unsteady phenomena observed in rectangular cavity flows, namely the shear layer mode and the wake mode.     

Computational modeling of vortex breakdown control on a delta wing

We present an effort to model the development and the control of the vortex breakdown phenomenon on a delta wing. The pair of the vortices formed on the suction side of a delta wing is the major contributor to the lift generation. As the angle of attack increases, these vortices become more robust, having high vorticity values. The critical point of a delta wing operation is the moment when these vortices, after a certain angle of attack, are detached from the wing surface and wing stall occurs. In order to delay or control the vortex breakdown mechanism, various techniques have been developed. In the present work, the technique based on the use of jet-flaps is numerically investigated with computational fluid dynamics by adopting two eddy-viscosity turbulence models. The computational results are compared with the experimental data of Shih and Ding (1996). It is shown that between the two turbulence models, the more advanced one, which adopts a non-linear constitutive expression for the Reynolds-stresses, is capable to capture the vortex breakdown location for a variety of jet exit angles. The performance assessment of the models is followed by the investigation of the effect of the jet-flap on the lift and drag coefficients.     

Near-field tip vortex behind a swept wing model

The near-field flow structure of a tip vortex behind a sweptback and tapered NACA 0015 wing was investigated and compared with a rectangular wing at the same lift force and Re=1.81×10⁵. The tangential velocity decreased with the downstream distance while increased with the airfoil incidence. The core radius was about 3% of the root chord c _r, regardless of the downstream distance and α for α<8°. The core axial velocity was always wake-like. The core Γ_c and total Γ_o circulation of the tip vortex remained nearly constant up to x/c _r=3.5 and had a Γ_c/Γ_o ratio of 0.63. The total circulation of the tip vortex accounted for only about 40% of the bound root circulation Γ_b. For a rectangular wing, the axial flow exhibited islands of wake- and jet-like velocity distributions with Γ_c/Γ_o=0.75 and Γ_o/Γ_b=0.70. For the sweptback and tapered wing tested, the inner region of the tip vortex flow exhibited a self-similar behavior for x/c _r≥1.0. The lift force computed from the spanwise circulation distributions agreed well with the force-balance data. A large difference in the lift-induced drag was, however, observed between the wake integral method and the inviscid lifting-line theory.     

Three-dimensional vortex formation on a heaving low-aspect-ratio wing: Computations and experiments

This paper addresses by means of high-resolution numerical simulations and experimental quantitative imaging the three-dimensional unsteady separation process induced by large-amplitude heaving oscillations of a low-aspect-ratio wing under low-Reynolds-number conditions. Computed results are found to be in good agreement with experimental flow visualizations and PIV measurements on selected cross-flow planes. The complex unsteady three-dimensional flow structure generated during dynamic stall of the low-aspect-ratio wing is elucidated. The process is characterized by the generation of a leading-edge vortex system which is pinned at the front corners of the plate and which exhibits intense transverse flow toward the wing centerline during its initial stages of development. This vortex detaches from the corners and evolves into an newly found arch-type structure. The legs of the arch vortex move along the surface toward the wing centerline and reconnect forming a ring-like structure which is shed as the next plunging cycle begins. Vortex breakdown, total collapse and reformation of the wing tip vortices are also observed at various stages of the heaving motion. At the relatively high value of reduced frequency considered, these basic flow elements of the complex three-dimensional dynamic stall process are found to persist over a range of Reynolds numbers.     

Wingtip vortex control via the use of a reverse half-delta wing

The effect of a 65° sweep reverse half-delta wing (RHDW), mounted at the squared tip of a rectangular NACA 0012 wing, on the tip vortex was investigated experimentally at Re?=?2.45?×?10⁵. The RHDW was found to produce a weaker tip vortex with a lower vorticity level and, more importantly, a reduced lift-induced drag compared to the baseline wing. In addition to the lift increment, the RHDW also produced a large separated wake flow and subsequently an increased profile drag. The reduction in lift-induced drag, however, outperformed the increase in profile drag and resulted in a virtually unchanged total drag in comparison with the baseline wing. Physical mechanisms responsible for the RHDW-induced appealing aerodynamics and vortex flow modifications were discussed.     

Effect of air jet vortex generators on a shock wave boundary layer interaction

The effect of upstream injection by means of continuous air jet vortex generators (AJVGs) on a shock wave turbulent boundary layer interaction is experimentally investigated. The baseline interaction is of the impinging type, with a flow deflection angle of 9.5° and a Mach number M _e  = 2.3. Considered are the effects of the AJVGs on the upstream boundary layer flow topology and on the spatial and dynamical characteristics of the interaction. To this aim, Stereoscopic Particle Image Velocimetry has been employed, in addition to hot-wire anemometry (HWA) for the investigation of the unsteady characteristics of the reflected shock. The AJVGs cause a reduction of the separation bubble length and height. In addition, the energetic frequency range of the reflected shock is increased by approximately 50%, which is in qualitative agreement with the smaller separation bubble size.     

Effects of a vectored trailing edge jet on delta wing vortex breakdown

Flow visualization was used to study the effects of a vectored trailing edge jet on the leading edge vortex breakdown of a 65° delta wing. The experimental results indicated that there is little effect of the jet on the leading edge vortex breakdown when the angle of the vectored jet is less than 10°. With the increase of the vectored angle ß, the effect of the jet on the flow becomes stronger, i.e., the jet delays the leading edge vortex breakdown in the direction of the vectored jet, and accelerates breakdown of the other leading edge vortex. Moreover, the effect of the jet control tends to be weaker with the angle of attack.     

Modification of static-wing tip vortex via a slender half-delta wing

The modification of the tip vortex generated by a rectangular NACA 0012 wing via a tip-mounted slender half-delta wing (HDW) was attempted experimentally at Re=2.81×10⁵. In addition to the increase in lift with increasing HDW deflection, compared to the baseline wing, the roll-up process of the tip vortex was also found to be significantly modified, as a result of the breakdown of the HDW vortex. The addition of the HDW also caused an increased total drag. Fortunately, the lift-induced drag was found to be reduced compared to its baseline counterpart for 0° and 5° HDW deflections. The change in the lift-induced drag also translates into a virtually unchanged profile drag, regardless of HDW deflection. In short, the largest lift-induced drag reduction achieved by the zero-deflection HDW resulted in an improved lift-to-drag ratio, at high angle-of-attack range, compared to the baseline wing.     

Three-dimensional instability on the interaction between a vortex and a stationary sphere

We present direct numerical simulations of the interaction between a vortex ring and a stationary sphere for Re = 2,000. We analyze the vortex dynamics of the ring as it approaches the sphere surface, and the boundary layer formed on the surface of the sphere undergoes separation to form a secondary vortex ring. This secondary vortex ring can develop azimuthal instabilities, which grow rapidly as it interacts with the primary ring. The azimuthal instabilities on both rings are characterized by analysis of the azimuthal component decomposition of the axial vorticity.     

On the problem of vortex interaction with a plane

We consider the well-known problem of the interaction of a vortex filament with a perpendicular plane in a viscous incompressible fluid. In this study, the vortex filament is represented by a semi-infinite rotating needle. Different models are considered: a zero-radius needle and fixed and movable in the axial direction needles of a finite radius. The ranges of the existence of the solution are found, and the correspondence of the flow around a finite-radius needle to that around a zero-radius needle, as the needle radius decreases, is studied.     

Large-eddy simulation of wing tip vortex in the near field

Large-eddy simulation with filtered-structure-function subgrid model and implicit large-eddy simulation (ILES without explicit subgrid model) using high-order accuracy and high resolution compact scheme have been performed on the tip vortex shedding from a rectangular half-wing with a NACA 0012 airfoil section and a rounded wing tip. The formation of the tip vortex and its initial development in the boundary layer and the near field wake are investigated and analysed in detail. The physics, why the tip vortex, which is originally turbulent in the boundary layer, is re-laminarised and becomes stable and laminar rapidly after shedding in the near field, is revealed by this simulation. The computation also shows the widely used second-order subgrid model is not consistent to six-order compact scheme and would degenerate the six-order LES results to second-order. Therefore, high-order schemes, grid refinement and six-order subgrid models are critical to LES approaches.     

Kinematic and mixing characteristics of vortex interaction induced by a vortex generator model: a numerical study

The underlying effect of vortex interaction characterized by the merging and non-merging on mixing enhancement is of fundamental significance to understand the flow dynamics of strut injectors in scramjets. Starting from a simplified configuration of a vortex generator, this study focuses on the influence of geometric parameters on vortex structures and fluid mixing through compressible Navier-Stokes(NS) simulations.By adjusting the induction of outer vortices, the inner co-rotating vortex pair ...