Wake Measurements behind an Oscillating Airfoil in Dynamic Stall Conditions

Abstract

The unsteady flow field in the wake of an NACA 23012 pitching airfoil was investigated by means of triple hot-wire probe measurements. Wind tunnel tests were carried out both in the light and deep dynamic stall regimes. The analysis of the wake velocity fields was supported by the measurements of unsteady flow fields and airloads. In particular, particle image velocimetry surveys were carried out on the airfoil upper surface, while the lift and pitching moments were evaluated integrating surface pressure measurements. In the light dynamic stall condition, the wake velocity profiles show a similar behaviour in upstroke and in downstroke motions as, in this condition, the flow on the airfoil upper surface is attached for almost the whole pitching cycle and the airloads show a small amount of hysteresis. The deep dynamic stall measurements in downstroke show a large extent of the wake and a high value of the turbulent kinetic energy due to the passage of strong vortical structures, typical of this dynamic stall regime. The comprehensive experimental database can be considered a reference for the development and validation of numerical tools for such peculiar flow conditions.