Comparison of aerodynamic performances of various airfoils from different airfoil families using CFD

Abstract

In this study, three airfoil families, NACA, FX and S, in each case three from each series with different shapes were investigated at different angles of attack using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) method. To verify the CFD model, simulation results of the NACA 0012 airfoil was compared against the available experimental data and k-ω SST was used as the turbulence model. Lift coefficients, lift to drag ratios and pressure distributions around airfoils were obtained from the CFD simulations and compared each other. The simulations were performed at three Reynolds numbers, Re=2x105, 1x106 and 2x106, and angle of attack was varied between -6 and 12 degrees. According to the results, similar lift coefficient values were obtained for symmetric airfoils reaching their maximum values at similar angles of attack. Maximum lift coefficients were obtained for FX 60-157 and S 4110 airfoils having lift coefficient values around 1.5 at Re=1x106 and 12 degrees of angle of attack. Flow separation occurred close to the leading edge of some airfoils at higher angles of attack, while some other airfoils were more successful in keeping the flow attached on the surface.