Vortex Generation in Low Speed Flow Over an Oscillating and Deforming Arc Airfoil

Abstract

A computational investigation is carried out to study the effect of oscillations on vortex generation and vorticity flux for flow over a deforming arc airfoil. The flow is laminar, incompressible, and twodimensional at Re = 10,000. The computations are performed using the finitevolume method and a deforming mesh. The vorticity flux is evaluated on the surface of the airfoil. A variety of flow features are observed. Boundary layer flows, vortical structures, rolling vortices, and vortex layers are all present and have some degree of influence on the aerodynamic characteristics of the arc airfoil. Tangential pressure gradient on the surface and tangential acceleration of the airfoil are local sources of vorticity generation, and they result in the flux of vorticity from airfoil into fluid.