The effect of wing planform shape on dynamic stall

We examine the dynamic stalling of three wing planforms and characterises the main features of the stalling process in each case. The particular data were obtained during a three year research programme in the Department of Aerospace Engineering, University of Glasgow to collect high-resolution unsteady pressure data on the dynamic stalling characteristics of finite wing planforms. In this study, which was motivated by the pressing need for a greater understanding of the strongly three-dimensional effects in the tip region of helicopter rotors, the three wing planforms considered were a straight rectangular wing, a rectangular wing with swept tips and a delta wing. The initial test programme was followed by a further three years of detailed analysis and interpretation of the test data. Results from this analysis are presented in the present paper for cases in which the wings were subject to ramp motions