Pitch–Plunge Equivalence in Dynamic Stall of Ramp Motion Airfoils

Abstract

Large-eddy simulations (LES) are employed to investigate the pitch–plunge equivalence of an SD7003 airfoil undergoing constant ramp motions at Reynolds number [Formula: see text]. The equivalence is constructed based on the geometric effective angle of attack according to the quasi-steady thin-airfoil theory. Two rates of descent (or pitch up) are analyzed for different Mach numbers in order to investigate the effects of compressibility on the evolution of the dynamic stall vortex (DSV). During the onset of the DSV and its transport along the airfoil surface, remarkable similarities are found between pitch and plunge in terms of flow topology, aerodynamic loads, and signatures of wall pressure and friction coefficients. However, these flow similarities cease at high-load conditions as the DSV becomes more susceptible to the peculiarities of the airfoil motion, manifested here by different trailing-edge vortices. Employing a correction for the rotation-induced apparent camber effect present in the pitching case, which results from the quasi-steady thin-airfoil theory, improves the agreement between pitch and plunge. However, it is not sufficient to assimilate their disparate trailing-edge systems. Results also demonstrate that the limit angle at which pitch–plunge equivalence remains valid decreases for higher Mach numbers.