Effects of smart flap on aerodynamic performance of sinusoidal leading-edge wings at low Reynolds numbers

Abstract

Sinusoidal leading-edge wings have shown a high performance after the stall region. In this study, the role of smart flaps in the aerodynamics of smooth and sinusoidal leading-edge wings at low Reynolds numbers of 29,000, 40,000 and 58,000 is investigated. Four wings with NACA 634-021 profile are firstly designed and then manufactured by a 3 D printer. Beam bending equation is used to determine the smart flap chord deflection. Next, wind tunnel tests are carried out to measure the lift and drag forces of proposed wings for a wide range of angles of attack, from zero to 36 degrees. Results show that using trailing-edge smart flap in sinusoidal leading-edge wing delays the stall point compared to the same wing without flap. However, a combination of smooth leading-edge wing and smart flap advances the stall. Furthermore, it is found that wings with smart flap generally have a higher lift to drag ratio due to their excellent performance in producing lift.