Research on Hydrodynamic Performance of Three-Dimensional Airfoil with Tubercles on Leading-Edge

Abstract

This paper aims to improve and control hydrodynamic performance of three-dimensional airfoils and investigate hydrodynamic performance of three-dimensional airfoil with tubercles on leading-edge by imitating the sinusoidal leading-edge systematically. Based on the DES method, a series of parameters, such as amplitudes and numbers of tubercles, had been studied via the FLUENT software with model constructed by ICEM software and divided by structural grid. According to the results, the amplitudes significantly affect the hydrodynamic performance of three-dimensional airfoil. With maintaining other conditions,tubercle airfoils can make stall angle delay, raise the lift and the drag ratio coefficient. Especially, if there is a bigger attack angle, it is better to reduce resistance and save energy, which will be a cornerstone for further study. It is of vital importance to find out appropriate amplitudes and numbers of tubercles to achieve further progress in hydrodynamic performance of three-dimensional airfoil.