2013 IEEE 2nd International Conference “Actual Problems of Unmanned Air Vehicles Developments” Proceedings pp.

65-67

Unsteady Flow Around Airfoil at Large Angles of

Attack
E.P. Udartsev, O.V. Shvets, O.M. Pereverzev, S.I. Alekseenko
Aerodynamics and Aircraft Flight Safety department
National Aviation University
Ukraine, Kiev
spinerbait@gmail.com

Abstract—the dynamics of unsteady vortex flow around the

wing in the hydrodynamic tunnel was investigated. The
hypothesis of cross-sensitivity detachable small vortex excitation
flow velocity in the region of leading edge with nasal influx was
confirmed.

Keywords—component; vortex flow; high angle of atack;

hydrodynamic tonnel; spectra flow.

I. PROBLEM AND PRACTICAL TASKS

The well-known research of wing vortex flow using
hydrodynamic tunnel is conducted in the U.S. [1], Russia of
[2], [3] and Ukraine [4].There were conducted researches on
specific profiles and configurations for steady flow and in
unsteady flow around profiles which are oscillated. The results
of visualization of the interaction of vortices that are formed at
high angles of attack were obtained. The three-dimensional
eddy currents are shown, eddies vouchers sensitivity to
various perturbations, which is incident turbulence flow, swirl,
frequency fluctuations in flow jet emissions, and so on. In
similar tests in the wind tunnel, the study in hydraulic tunnel
can get results at low Reynolds numbers. The density of water
at 800 times greater than the density of air, the rate of
hydrodynamic phenomena is 1/15 of the speed of events in the
air. Research in the hydraulic tunnel allow, a diagnostic
analysis of the work stream, to explore different flow
configurations, to develop new concepts in the interaction of
vortex flows, mathematical modeling of the dynamics of
various denominations.
Research of vortex formation flow around aircraft is
present-day question for active management of vortex flow on
the wing to reduce vortex drag, increased the critical (stall)
angle of attack and the lift force and conservation of linear
dependences for moments , struggle with the phenomenon of
hysteresis [5].
The study of the structure of vortex flows is needed to
meet the problems of the separation of the flow, a sharp drop
of lift force, changing the aerodynamic drag and moments.
Dynamics formation of vortex on airfoil can be classified
according to Fig. 1 in a two-dimensional model.
Fig. 1. Vortices formed on the airfoil at high angles of attack: 1 - separation
of the upper flow near the trailing edge, 2 - development of viscous and
mutual separation vortices at high angles of attack, 3 - vortex near the leading
edge at high angles of attack, dynamic separation of the flow, 4 - dynamic and
viscous vortices on the airfoil; 5 - complete separation of flow
The practical test is the obstruction of the vortex "a" in the
region of the leading edge and its interaction with the vortex
near the trailing edge, which is caused by the viscous
boundary layer separation (Fig. 2).
General problem of studying the dynamics of vortices and
it’s interaction is to build an aerodynamic profile with given
characteristics based computer programs.
Fig. 2. Computer model creation of vortices on the profile wings: a -
dynamic vortex near the leading edge, b - viscous vortex at the trailing edge
II. THE PURPOSE OF RESEARCH
It is necessary to identify the characteristics of vortex flow,
which leads to separation of flow. To explore in the
hydrodynamic tunnel development of dynamic separation on
the wing at high angles of attack, the effect of velocity
gradient in the region of the leading edge of the wing on the
dynamics of the vortex flow. Scientific interest is the

c 2013 IEEE
978-1-4799-3306-8/13/$31.00  65
 Unsteady Flow Around Airfoil at Large Angles of Attack

formation of an organized wing flow, which will reduce the

impact on the aerodynamic characteristics at high angles of
attack.
III. THE RESULTS OF EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES
We used the profile NACA 0012 model wing with side
washers to increase the effective extension. Wing chord is
120mm, relative thickness c= 0.4 .Rectangular wing is
210x120 mm. The flow rate in the hydrodynamic tunnel have
been changed from 0.05 to 0.15m/sec. Reynolds number is
103÷104. Visualization was performed using the paint that was
issued through the holes on the leading edge of the wing, as
well as special weights to account. The holes are located within
15 mm apart. The general scheme of the hydrodynamic tunnel
(HDT) is shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5. Spectra of wings streamlines with increasing flow due to nasal influx

The dynamics of vortex wings flow clearly visible in Fig. 6

and Fig. 7 at angle of attack 11 and 17 degrees.

Fig. 3. Hydrodynamic settings HDT - 2M. 1 - valve drains fluid; 2 - filler

faucet; 3 - tank; 4 - pressure vessel; 5 - the capacity to dye; 6 – nozzle; 7 -
comb the dye in the feed stream; 8 - model studied; 9 – lighter; 10 – camera;
11 - electric motor; 12 - centrifugal pump
Fixing experiment was conducted by photo and video.
Spectra flow was investigated at smooth wing and wing
with accelerators flow at the leading edge in the flow around
the wing at angles of attack from 0 to 30 degree.
The reason for the study was data, published in [6], which
states that the separation vortices are sensitive to small
perturbations [4].
Studies of wings in HDT are shown in Fig. 4. for smooth
wing at angles of attack 2 ° - 17 °; wing with flow accelerators
at 0 ° - 25 ° in Fig. 5.
Fig. 4. Spectra of smooth wing flow
Fig. 6. The transverse vortex generated at the leading edge wing interacts
with the separation vortices generated by viscosity and together form a
leading edge vortex, α =15º
Of particular interest there is the mode of flow smooth
wing at angle of attack 15°. This is visible vortex that runs
from the leading edge and its development downstream
interaction with vortices separated boundary layer zone. The
interaction of vortices generates a continuous vortex flow,
which consists of a main vortex and vortex attached to it, and
inside the vortex core volume, there is beginning of small
vortices. Near the trailing edge clearly visible vortex
separation boundary layer is formed. In the main wing the
vortex burst occurs, but remains more stable, shallow vortex
structures and traced the origin Karman vortex track (Fig. 7).
Vortices formed in the real plane with speed Ͳǡͷܸஶ . This leads
to transient changes in aerodynamic characteristics.
Stream as accelerator influx that comes forward to the
leading edge, eliminates cross create a vortex zone viscous - in
viscous interaction, however, the effectiveness of a creator
longitudinal vortices is insufficient for the complete
elimination of the separation of viscous flow in the boundary
layer, the emerging near the trailing edge of the wing.
Accelerating the flow leads to align the boundary of the flow.
Observation of transverse vortices over the airfoil showed
that weak vortices quickly exploded and did not cause
significant impact on the flow.

66 2013 IEEE 2nd International Conference “Actual Problems of Unmanned Air Vehicles Developments” Proceedings
 E. P. Udartsev, O. V. Shvets, O. M. Pereverzev, S. I. Alekseenko
There is significant impact if the effects of the perturbation
flow reach the trailing edge.
Speed on the wing increases due to nasal influx. The
growth rate leads to the destruction of the transverse vortices
(Fig. 8).
Fig. 7. Development of transverse vortices, α = 11º.
Fig. 8. Spectra of wing stream lines with increasing velocity profile due to
influence of nasal influx, α = 15 °.
IV. CONCIUSION
Study of the dynamics of vortex creation at high angles of
attack in the hydrodynamic tunnel allowed us to test the
hypothesis regarding the sensitivity of vortex flow to
accelerate the profile flow in the region of the leading edge.
The destruction of the vortex at the leading edge leads to
significant changes of the vortex flow around the wing,
increasing the critical (stalling) angle of attack to 30 - 50%.
2013 IEEE 2nd International Conference “Actual Problems of Unmanned Air Vehicles Developments” Proceedings
Increasing of the speed of the wing leading edge by the
nasal influx can destroy transverse separation eddies and
increase the critical (stalling) angle of attack.
The computer simulations of new airfoil must carefully
study the acceleration of the flow in the zone of probable
dynamic vortex separation to form a vortex flow dynamics in
gradient flow.
REFERENCES
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three dimensional flow fields,” AIAA Paper, vol. 79, 1980.
[2] G.S.Byushgens, Aerodynamics stability and control of supersonic
aircraft. Moskov, Russia: Nauka, Fizmatlit, 1998. (in Russian)
[3] A. Boyko and B.U. Zanin, “Space structure of the flows on the airfoil
(review),” Teplofizika i aeromehanika, vol.3, no.1, 1996. (in Russian)
[4] E.P. Udartsev et al., “Modeling the unsteady motion of the wing in the
hydrodynamic tunnel,” in Proc. Avia-2011, Kiev, NAU, 2011. (in.
Ukrainian)
[5] M.J. Stanway, Hydrodynamic effects of leading – edge tuberles on
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[7] A.M. Pavlenko, “The study of the vortex structure of separated flows
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(in. Ukrainian)
[9] A.P. Brylyakov et al., “Flow separation to live under the wing of
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[10] E.P. Udartsev and A.G. Scherbonos, “Experimental investigation wing
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