Effect of pre-strain and excess length on unsteady fluid-structure interactions of membrane airfoils

Pinunta Rojratsirikul, Zhijin Wang, Ismet Gursul

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Abstract

Aerodynamic characteristics of two-dimensional membrane airfoils were experimentally investigated in a wind tunnel. The effects of the membrane pre-strain and excess length on the unsteady aspects of the fluid-structure interaction were studied. The deformation of the membrane as a function of angle of attack and free-stream velocity was measured using a high-speed camera. These measurements were complemented by the measurements of unsteady velocity field with a high frame-rate Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) system as well as smoke visualization. Membrane airfoils with excess length exhibit higher vibration modes, earlier roll-up of vortices, and smaller separated flow regions, whereas the membranes with pre-strain generally behave more similarly to a rigid airfoil. Measured frequencies of the membrane vibrations suggest a possible coupling with the wake instabilities at high incidences for all airfoils.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)359-376
Number of pages18
JournalJournal of Fluids and Structures
Volume26
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Apr 2010
Event47th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting Including The New Horizons Forum and Aerospace Exposition - Orlando, USA United States
Duration: 5 Jan 20098 Jan 2009

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