Comparison of Flow Topology Between Major Groups of Airfoil with Vortex Shedding

Abstract

The effect of vortex behavior on airfoil aerodynamic performance has been widely debated for many years, and many research studies have been conducted to examine the relationship. This paper highlights the in-depth study of flow topological processes on major airfoil groups with vortex shedding. It considers various typeof corresponding geometriesincludingsymmetrical, asymmetrical, thick, and thin airfoilsin order to showthe differences in flow topology. The study also emphasized the behavior of separationbubbles, vortex shedding and reattachment points. The use of a commercial CFD softwarefor the studygave reliable resultswithinan adequate length of time. The vortex shedding wassuccessfully highlighted either physically or hypothetically. The separation bubble was relatively easier to be identified in all cases of airfoil of interest. The evolution of separation bubble captured by the topology in the case of Eppler169 was the unique, and involved the break of reattachment point.