A new hole-down-array design for airfoil separation control

This study explores the feasibility of passive flow control utilizing a hole-down array (HDA), inspired by the natural observation of gaps in bird feathers during flight. We combine numerical simulations with experimental wind tunnel tests to assess the impact of HDA on the standard NACA0012 airfoil...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Teimourian, Amir, Romero, Didac, Altmeyer, Sebastian Andreas|||0000-0001-5964-0203
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2025
País:España
Institución:Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)
Repositorio:UPCommons. Portal del coneixement obert de la UPC
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:upcommons.upc.edu:2117/441270
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/2117/441270
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Flow control
Flow separation
Canonical holes
CFD
Hole-down-array
Wind tunnel
Wing design
Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Aeronàutica i espai::Aerodinàmica
Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Física::Física de fluids
Descripción
Sumario:This study explores the feasibility of passive flow control utilizing a hole-down array (HDA), inspired by the natural observation of gaps in bird feathers during flight. We combine numerical simulations with experimental wind tunnel tests to assess the impact of HDA on the standard NACA0012 airfoil. We test two distinct HDA configurations: one featuring a single row of holes and the other with two rows, with the holes positioned either centrally along the airfoil or near the trailing edge. The aim is to evaluate these design alternatives and their potential to enhance performance. The aerodynamic coefficients and pressure distributions are computed using computational fluid dynamics (CFD), then compared and verified with wind tunnel test data. The findings are promising, indicating that these configurations could significantly boost lift without affecting drag. Although results vary with the angle of attack, the maximum lift-to-drag ratio can be improved relative to the original NACA0012 model. Additionally, we highlight the limitations encountered when employing 2D simulations for complex geometries.