The effect of laminar separation bubbles on the surface pressure distribution and aerodynamic force characteristics of two quite different airfoils is studied numerically. The low-Reynolds-number Eppler E387 airfoil is analyzed at a chord Reynolds number of 1.0×105 whereas the NREL S809 airfoil for horizontal-axis wind turbines is analyzed at 1.0×106. For all cases in the present study, bubble induced vortex shedding is observed. This flow phenomenon causes significant oscillations in the airfoil surface pressures and, hence, airfoil generated aerodynamic forces. The computed time-averaged pressures compare favorably with wind-tunnel measurements for both airfoils.
Volume Subject Area:
Aerodynamics, Experiments and Modeling: Session I
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Copyright © 2002
by Mayda, van Dam, Duque, and ASME
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