Numerical Investigation of Winglet Aerodynamics and Dimple Effect of NACA 0017 Airfoil for a Freight Aircraft

Matthew Thomas Lewthwaite,Chiemela Victor Amaechi

doi:10.3390/inventions7010031

Matthew Thomas Lewthwaite, Chiemela Victor Amaechi

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/inventions7010031

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Abstract

Drag reduction is an ever-present challenge within the aeronautical engineering industry. This paper presents two substantial wing modifications: the addition of a winglet of a freighter aircraft and a dimpled wing on the NACA 0017 aerofoils. Studies on nine (9) different geometries of dimpled aerofoils were performed against a control model of an aerofoil without any dimple. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis was performed using two (2) commercial CFD platforms. This paper also explored two novel solutions of aircraft optimisation to mitigate the effects of drag and leading-edge pressure, while increasing the effect of lift. The optimised performance model of a freighter aircraft increased its aerodynamic efficiency. The study found that at take-off velocity of 82 m/s, winglets decreased pressure on the wing by 16.31%, through flow redirection and better flow integration into aerofoils wake. The study also analysed the separation layer and its effect through the appropriate use of the dimple effect. Increased lift effects were observed on a NACA 0017 aerofoil. Despite the low increase in drag of 6% from the modifications, the resultant L/D ratio was highly increased. This study also faced some challenges with validating the model. Hence some validation approaches were taken, and some other approaches suggested for future studies.

Highlights

Current trends in the research on dimples show aerodynamic effects on a variety of applications, such as golf balls, wind turbine blades, and aircraft wings
Each dimple shape is located underneath the aerofoil and compared to the effects of a dimple located on the top, Inventions 2022, 6, x FOR PEER REVaIEnWd a dimple located on both the top and underneath of the aerofoil
It is important to note that the results from the SimScale verification study are not directly comparable to the Autodesk Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis, due to some refinements in the geometry and difference in enclosure by a few millimetres

Summary

Introduction

Current trends in the research on dimples show aerodynamic effects on a variety of applications, such as golf balls, wind turbine blades, and aircraft wings (for military, cargo, passenger, or freighter aircrafts). Aircrafts, drones, stealth crafts, fighter jets, etc. These serve other purposes for logistics, military supplies, or distributing small, electronic components. A global logistics company, has achieved current drone delivery applications for supplying goods [2]. Drones have been deployed for organ transplant in the University of Maryland Medical Center, USA [3,4] There are other applications of aviation crafts, such as military fighter jets, and stealth jets. They must be smaller with delicate parts to increase aerodynamic efficiency They usually house a delta-shaped wing to increase agility in air-to-air combat [5], using an aerodynamically efficient aeroplane [6]

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