Wind tunnel experiments have been conducted on six different wingtip configurations to determine their wake vortex characteristics. The trailing wingtip vortex was probed by a 1/8 inch diameter five hole yawhead pressure probe in the VPI & SU Stability Wind Tunnel. The vortex tangential and axial velocity profiles are compared at five and twenty chord lengths downstream. Primary focus is placed on the Whitcomb winglet and its individual components, the upper winglet alone and the lower winglet alone. It is shown that the Whitcomb winglet and the upper winglet configuration both produce two distinct vortices of the same rotation. The maximum tangential velocity in each vortex is about 64 percent less than that produced by a conventional wingtip configuration. The axial velocity profiles exhibit strong velocity deficits throughout the vortex core. Aerodynamic force tests were conducted to compare the lift and drag characteristics of the wingtip configurations. Both the Whitcomb winglet and the upper winglet configuration have a remarkable ability to increase the lift-drag ratio and reduce the drag coefficient. / Ph. D.

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A numerical technique is developed to simulate the vortices associated with stationary and flapping wings. The Unsteady Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (URANS) equations are used over an unstructured grid. The present work assesses the locations of the origins of vortex generation, models those locations and develops a systematic mesh refinement strategy to simulate vortices more accurately using the URANS model. The vortex center plays a key role in the analysis of the simulation data. A novel approach to locating a vortex center is also developed referred to as the Max-Max criterion. Experimental validation of the simulated vortex from a stationary NACA0012 wing is achieved. The tangential velocity along the core of the vortex falls within five percent of the experimental data in the case of the stationary NACA0012 simulation. The wing surface pressure coefficient also matches with the experimental data. The refinement techniques are then focused on unsteady simulations of pitching and dual-mode wing flapping. Tip vortex strength, location, and wing surface pressure are analyzed. Links to vortex behavior and wing motion are inferred.

An experiment was performed in the Cal Poly Mechanical Engineering 2x2 ft wind tunnel to quantify the effect of spanwise synthetic jet actuation (SJA) on the drag of a NACA 0015 semispan wing. The wing, which was designed and manufactured for this experiment, has an aspect ratio of 4.20, a span of 0.427 m (16.813”), and is built around an internal array of piezoelectric actuators, which work in series to create a synthetic jet that emanates from the wingtip in the spanwise direction. Direct lift and drag measurements were taken at a Reynolds Number of 100,000 and 200,000 using a load cell/slider mechanism to quantify the effect of actuation on the lift and drag. It was found that the piezoelectric disks used in the synthetic jet actuators cause structural vibrations that have a significant effect on the aerodynamics of the NACA 0015 model. The experiment was performed in a way as to isolate the effect of vibration from the effect of the synthetic jet on the lift and drag. Lift and drag data was supported with pressure readings from 60 pressure ports distributed in rows along the span of the wing. Oil droplet flow visualization was also performed to understand the effect of SJA near the wingtip. The synthetic jet and vibration had effects on the drag. The synthetic jet with vibration decreased the drag only slightly while vibration alone could decrease drag significantly from 11.3% at α = 4° to 23.4% at α = 10° and Re = 100,000. The lift was slightly increased with a slight increase due to the jet and showed a slight increase due to vibration. Two complete rows of pressure ports at 2y/b = 37.5% and 85.1% showed changes in lift due to actuation as well. The synthetic jet increased the lift near the wingtip at 2y/b = 85.1% and had little to no effect inboard at the 37.5% location, hence, the synthetic jet changes the lift distribution on the wing. Oil flow visualization was used to support this claim. Without actuation, the footprint of the tip vortex was present on the upper surface of the wing. With actuation on, the footprint disappeared suggesting the vortex was pushed off the wingtip by the jet. It is possible that the increased lift with actuation can be caused by the vortex being pushed outboard.

V této diplomové práci byla provedena série numerických výpočtů proudění kolem křídla s aktivním řízením proudu. Výpočty jsou provedeny pro různé úhly náběhu křídla s profilem NACA 0015. Křídlo s zařízením pro aktivní řízení proudu bylo testováno v podmínkách s Machovým číslem M=0,21 a Re= 2500000. Bylo zkoušeno více možných konfigurací s cílem nalézt nejúčinější variantu, která bude zároveň stále energeticky efektivní. Vybraný přístup k aplikaci aktivního řízení na křídle se od ostatních liší. Použito je velkých ploch pro vyfukování vzduchu o nízké rychlosti a zároveň v souvislosti s tím je studována energetická účinnost. Snížení odporu a zvýšení vztlaku je dosaženo změnou řídících veličin. Při určitých specifických podmínkách je zařízení schopno při velmi vysoké energetické účinnosti dosáhnout pro všechny úhly náběhu výrazného snížení odporu, zvýšení vztlaku křídla, nebo obojího zároveň. Maximální pokles odporu křídla na malých úhlech náběhu přesahuje 40% z celkového odporu křídla a stále s dodržením energetické účinnosti.