Validation of a Discrete Vortex Method for Low Reynolds Number Unsteady Flows

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-2014

Publication Source

AIAA Journal

Abstract

An in-house discrete vortex method code based on steady and unsteady thin airfoil theory is used to rapidly resolve the flowfield and force coefficients for low Reynolds number unsteady aerodynamic applications. The Uhlman method is incorporated due to its ability to incorporate vortex motion, and surface effects in the volume and surface integrals make it ideal to calculate the pressure and the associated forces on the airfoil surface. The code is then used to study both low and high angle of attack impulsive motions, the AIAA Fluid Dynamics Technical Committee Low Reynolds Number Working Group 0–45 deg Pitch–Ramp–Hold Canonical cases, a similar 0–85 deg Pitch–Ramp–Hold to closer simulate perching, a 0–40–0 deg Pitch–Ramp–Hold–Return, and high reduced frequency pure plunge. In all cases, the flowfield and accompanying lift-and-drag results compared well with experimental and computational fluid dymanics results given the extent of the assumptions underlying the discrete vortex method.

Inclusive pages

643-649

ISBN/ISSN

0001-1452

Comments

Permission documentation is on file.

Publisher

American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics

Volume

52

Issue

3

Peer Reviewed

yes

Link to Full Text

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