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Active Flow Separation Control of a Laminar Airfoil at Low Reynolds Number

Packard, Nathan Owen
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1338315982

Abstract Details

2012, Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, Aero/Astro Engineering.
Detailed investigation of the NACA 643-618 is obtained at a Reynolds number of 6.4x104 and angle of attack sweep of -5° < α < 25°. The baseline flow is characterized by four distinct regimes depending on angle of attack, each exhibiting unique flow behavior. Active flow control is exploited from a row of discrete holes located at five percent chord on the upper surface of the airfoil. Steady normal blowing is employed at four representative angles; blowing ratio is optimized by maximizing the lift coefficient with minimal power requirement. The range of effectiveness of pulsed actuation with varying frequency, duty cycle and blowing ratio is explored. Pulsed blowing successfully reduces separation over a wide range of reduced frequency (0.1-1), blowing ratio (0.5–2), and duty cycle (0.6–50%). A phase-locked investigation, by way of particle image velocimetry, at ten degrees angle of attack illuminates physical mechanisms responsible for separation control of pulsed actuation at a low frequency and duty cycle. Temporal resolution of large structure formation and wake shedding is obtained, revealing a key mechanism for separation control. The Kelvin-Helmholtz instability is identified as responsible for the formation of smaller structures in the separation region which produce favorable momentum transfer, assisting in further thinning the separation region and then fully attaching the boundary layer. Closed-loop separation control of an oscillating NACA 643-618 airfoil at Re = 6.4x104 is investigated in an effort to autonomously minimize control effort while maximizing aerodynamic performance. High response sensing of unsteady flow with on-surface hot-film sensors placed at zero, twenty, and forty percent chord monitors the airfoil performance and determines the necessity of active flow control. Open-loop characterization identified the use of the forty percent sensor as the actuation trigger. Further, the sensor at twenty percent chord is used to distinguish between pre- and post- leading edge stall; this demarcation enables the utilization of optimal blowing parameters for each circumstance. The range of effectiveness of the employed control algorithm is explored, charting the practicality of the closed-loop control algorithm. To further understand the physical mechanisms inherent in the control process, the transients of the aerodynamic response to flow control are investigated. The on-surface hot-film sensor placed at the leading edge is monitored to understand the time delays and response times associated with the initialization of pulsed normal blowing. The effects of angle of attack and pitch rate on these models are investigated. Black-box models are developed to quantify this response. The sensors at twenty and forty percent chord are also monitored for a further understanding of the transient phenomena.
Jeffrey Bons, Dr. (Advisor)
Mohammad Samimy, Dr. (Committee Member)
Jen-Ping Chen, Dr. (Committee Member)
Andrea Seranni, Dr. (Committee Member)
150 p.
Aerospace Engineering; Fluid Dynamics
active flow control; experimental fluid dynamics; closed-loop control

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Packard, N. O. (2012). Active Flow Separation Control of a Laminar Airfoil at Low Reynolds Number [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1338315982

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Packard, Nathan. Active Flow Separation Control of a Laminar Airfoil at Low Reynolds Number. 2012. Ohio State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1338315982.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Packard, Nathan. "Active Flow Separation Control of a Laminar Airfoil at Low Reynolds Number." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, 2012. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1338315982

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.