Numerical simulation of the flow field about a multi-element airfoil with oscillating flap

Abstract

Investigation of steady and unsteady flowfields over airfoils is an active area of current computational and experimental research. In this study, the compressible, viscous, flow over a single and multi-element airfoil is numerically simulated by solving the Navier Stokes equations. The motivation for this work includes interest in studying the effects of a stationary/flapping airfoil combination in tandem configuration. A single-block Navier-Stokes (NS) solver is employed to compute unsteady flowfields. Turbulence is treated using the Baldwin-Lomax turbulence model. A single C-grid is generated and it is partially distorted to simulate the flapping motion. Numerical solutions are obtained for flows at a fixed angle of attack and for unsteady flows over flapping airfoils. The numerical solutions agree well with the experimental data The difficulties faced during the study are discussed and future improvements are suggested.