Experimental Investigation of Turbulent Flow With Separation Over a NACA 4412 Airfoil at Angle of Attack 20 Degree

This paper presents the measured mean flow and Reynolds stresses results, obtained on the center-line plane of the airfoil, covering the boundary layers over the upper surface, the potential flow region and the wake downstream of the trailing edge, at α_a = 20°. The flying X-hot-wire probe was used to measure mean velocity and turbulence structure over the airfoil. An improved understanding of the physical characteristics of separation on the airfoil sections and in the region of the trailing edge is of direct value for the improvement of high lift wings for aircraft. From the study of the separation flow at angle of attack α_a = 20°, the following can be concluded: A stable separation bubble has developed near the trailing edge of the airfoil, covering around 0.6c of the airfoil surface. Also it is found that values of the Reynolds normal and shear stresses move away from the surface with downstream distance, showing turbulence diffusion to be more evident in this flow. In the wake region, relatively large values of Reynolds stresses occurred, which were related to the vertical oscillations in the upper wake.