EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF STEPPED AEROFOIL USING PROPELLER TEST RIG

Arun Prakash J, Sweta S Radhakrishnan, Ramavijay N, Vishnupriya S

Abstract: Studies have confirmed that trapped vortices on corrugated airfoils modify the effective wing shape, resulting in an increase in lift. The intense system of vortices trapped in the cavity forces the flow to reattach, thus preventing separation. The vortices thereby change the lift, drag and pitching moments depending on whether the step is introduced on the upper or lower edge of the airfoil. The paper focuses on carrying out performance test on stepped (Kline Fogleman) airfoils using the propeller test rig. Stepped airfoils have single or multiple steps along the length of the wing. The trapped vortex cavity is being used by stepped airfoil which enhances the flow field characteristics An airfoil of the NACA series was chosen for which a step was introduced at 50% of the airfoil thickness at mid chord position half way along its length. These airfoils are then used for the fabrication of propeller blades. They are then tested for various speeds and blade angles using the propeller test rig. With the increase in lift, the efficiency of the propeller is also increased. The results are compared and studied with the convectional airfoils. Future scope of the work will also be discussed.

Keywords: Stepped airfoil, trapped vortices, propeller test rig

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15623/ijret.2014.0308033