Numerical Study of Bio-Inspired Corrugated Airfoil Geometry in a Forward Flight at a Low Reynolds Number

Abstract

In this study, the effects of variations in the parametric geometry on the aerodynamic efficiency and longitudinal static stability of a bio-inspired airfoil were assessed using the computational method at a low Reynolds number of 80000. The investigation aims to recognize the influence of corrugations on aerodynamic forces and moments and compare them with a non-corrugated profile having similar geometry without corrugations. Three different airfoils were chosen, the first triangular peaked corrugated is inspired from the mid-section of a dragonfly wing, the second modified simplified corrugated is a different form of the dragonfly wing section, which was modified to match the maximum thickness of the first airfoil, and the third is a non-corrugated Hybrid airfoil obtained by joining the peaks of the second airfoil. These three models were fabricated using an additive manufacturing process to undertake the experimental work in a low subsonic wind tunnel to find aerodynamic characteristics. ANSYS FLUENT solver was applied to unravel the steady, laminar, incompressible, two-dimensional, RANS equations. The tests were performed for 4 to +20 degrees angle of attack at a Reynolds number of 80,000. The result revealed that the Hybrid airfoil is suitable only for up to a 4-degree angle of attack. The modified simple corrugated airfoil produced significant aerodynamic performance at high angles of attack than the other two tested airfoils. The flow field study also showed the same results. Results are validated with experimental work and also with existing literature.