Aerodynamic Study of Airfoils with Leading Edge Imperfections at Low Reynolds Number

Abstract

A study has been made on the influence of the leading edge imperfections in airfoils used in different devices relating their aerodynamic performances. Wind tunnel tests have been made at different Reynolds numbers and angle of attacks in order to show this effect. Later, a quantitative study of the aerodynamic properties has been made based on the different leading edge imperfections and their size.

Aerodynamic Analysis of Open Trailing Edge Airfoils at Low Reynolds Number

“…The original airfoil, NACA0012, at Reynolds numbers studied presents an increment in maximum lift coefficient as Reynolds number increase, as well as a change in the kind of stall, from smooth stall at lower Re, to sharp stall at higher Re studied 15 , as shown in fig. 4…”

Influence of leading edge imperfections on the aerodynamic characteristics of NACA 632-215 laminar aerofoils at low Reynolds numbers

“…Low Reynolds number aerofoils have been the focus of attention of many researchers over the decades because of their use in a wide range of applications, from unmanned aerial vehicles to low-power wind turbine blades and also because of their potential use in aircrafts designed to fly in thin atmospheres like the one existing in Mars. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8] In the case of symmetric non-laminar aerofoils at low Reynolds numbers, leading edge imperfections like the one considered here introduce a loss of symmetry in the aerofoil shape, which causes a lift coefficient increase in some cases (in symmetric aerofoil the leading edge displacement is similar to a camber effect) and an important rise of the drag coefficient, 9,10 thus leading to a significant reduction of the aerodynamic efficiency. Similar results are obtained with leading edge flaps at low Reynolds numbers.…”