Large-Eddy Simulation of Low-Frequency Flow Oscillations for NACA0012 and Dynarig Sail at Large Attack Angles

Abstract

Unmanned sailboats, harnessing wind for propulsion, offer great potential for extended marine research due to their virtually unlimited endurance. The sails typically operate at high attack angles, which contrasts with aircraft that maintain small angles to prevent stalling. Despite the reduction in lift during stalling, the resultant increase in drag contributes significantly to the sail’s thrust. However, the sail often experiences vortex shedding due to high attack angles, leading to low-frequency oscillations and erratic navigation. This study employs large-eddy simulations (LESs) on a 3D NACA0012 sail at a Reynolds number of 3.6 × 105, which is validated by experimental data. It observes the lift and drag coefficients across attack angles from 5 to 90 degrees and compares these with a Dynarig sail. The findings reveal that higher attack angles amplify fluctuations in lift and drag coefficients. Vortex shedding, resulting from flow separation, creates pressure changes and oscillations in aerodynamic forces. Fast Fourier transformation (FFT) analysis identifies dominant frequencies between 0.5 and 10 Hz, indicating low-frequency oscillations. The study’s insights into the impact of attack angle and sail type on the oscillation frequency are favorable for the design of unmanned sailboats, aiding in the prediction of wind-induced frequencies and optimal attack angle determination.