Effect of Aspect Ratio on Aerodynamic Characteristics at Low Reynolds Numbers

The effect of the aspect ratio on the aerodynamic characteristics of rectangular wings is experimentally investigated at Reynolds numbers on the order of 104. The aerodynamic coefficients are analyzed based on visualized flowfields and theoretical results. The characteristics of high-aspect-ratio wings are shown to be affected by leading-edge separation bubbles at low Reynolds numbers. However, the qualitative characteristics are similar when the aspect ratio is 3.0 and above. The characteristics of wings with aspect ratios below 3.0 differ significantly from those of wings with large aspect ratios. In particular, a significant influence is revealed for aspect ratios of 1.0 and below. The effect of the aspect ratio is considered to be caused by wingtip vortices. The discussion also includes the effects of the Reynolds number, the shape of the leading edge, and the thickness ratio.

[1]  Kamran Mohseni,et al.  Effects of Sideslip on the Aerodynamics of Low-Aspect-Ratio Low-Reynolds-Number Wings , 2012 .

[2]  W. G. Steele,et al.  Engineering application of experimental uncertainty analysis , 1995 .

[3]  Shojiro Shindo,et al.  Simplified tunnel correction method , 1995 .

[4]  Fulvio Scarano,et al.  Advances in iterative multigrid PIV image processing , 2000 .

[5]  T. Mueller,et al.  Experimental Studies of Separation on a Two-Dimensional Airfoil at Low Reynolds Numbers , 1982 .

[6]  M. Okamoto,et al.  Aerodynamic Characteristics at Low Reynolds Numbers for Wings of Various Planforms , 2011 .

[7]  Yutaka Yamaguchi,et al.  Aerodynamic Characteristics of Rectangular Flat Plate Wings in Low Reynolds Number Flows , 2012 .

[8]  Masayuki Anyoji,et al.  Low Reynolds number airfoil testing in a Mars Wind Tunnel , 2010 .

[9]  Wei Shyy,et al.  Aerodynamics of Low Reynolds Number Flyers: Introduction , 2007 .

[10]  M J Crompton,et al.  Investigation of the separation bubble formed behind the sharp leading edge of a flat plate at incidence , 2000 .

[11]  Bharathram Ganapathisubramani,et al.  Aspect-Ratio Effects on Aeromechanics of Membrane Wings at Moderate Reynolds Numbers , 2015 .

[12]  J. E. Lamar,et al.  Extension of leading-edge-suction analogy to wings with separated flow around the side edges at subsonic speeds , 1974 .

[13]  J. C. Lane,et al.  Leading Edge Separation From a Blunt Plate at Low Reynolds Number , 1980 .

[14]  Thomas J. Mueller,et al.  Low-aspect-ratio wing aerodynamics at low Reynolds numbers , 2004 .