Hostname: page-component-7c8c6479df-8mjnm Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-03-29T15:55:29.867Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Effects of three-dimensionality on thrust production by a pitching panel

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 November 2008

MELISSA A. GREEN
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
ALEXANDER J. SMITS
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA

Abstract

To understand the fluid dynamics of a biologically inspired unsteady low-aspect-ratio propulsor, unsteady pressure distributions were measured and compared with time-averaged thrust performance and wake visualizations. The experiments were performed on rigid rectangular panels with different aspect ratios, pitching in a uniform flow. Panel aspect ratio and pitching amplitude were shown to affect the magnitude and time dependence of the pressure distribution on the panel surface, the vorticity generation on the panel, and thrust production. A new scaling is proposed that includes these parameters and collapses the oscillating pressure magnitude and the thrust coefficient.

Type
Papers
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2008

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Ardonceau, P. L. 1989 Unsteady pressure distribution over a pitching airfoil. AIAA J. 27, 660662.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Borazjani, I. & Sotiropoulos, F. 2008 Numerical investigation of the hydrodynamics of carangiform swimming in the transitional and inertial flow regimes. J. Expl Biol. (in press).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Buchholz, J. J. 2006 The flowfield and performance of a low aspect ratio unsteady propulsor. PhD thesis, Princeton University.Google Scholar
Buchholz, J. J. & Smits, A. J. 2008 The wake structure and thrust performance of a rigid low-aspect-ratio pitching panel. J. Fluid Mech. 603, 331365.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Dong, H., Mittal, R., Bozhurttas, M. & Najjar, F. 2005 Wake structure and performance of finite aspect-ratio flapping foils. AIAA Paper 2005-0081.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
von Ellenrieder, K. D., Parker, K. & Soria, J. 2003 Flow structures behind a heaving and pitching finite-span wing. J. Fluid Mech. 490, 129138.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ghovardhan, R. & Williamson, C. H. K. 2005 Vortex-induced vibrations of a sphere. J. Fluid Mech. 531, 1147.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Guglielmini, L. 2004 Modeling of thrust generating foils. PhD thesis, University of Genoa.Google Scholar
Hilaire, A. St & Carta, F. 1983 Analysis of unswept and swept wing chordwise pressure data from an oscillating NACA 0012 airfoil experiment. NASA CR-3567.Google Scholar
Hultmark, M., Leftwich, M. & Smits, A. J. 2007 Flowfield measurements in the wake of a robotic lamprey. Exps. Fluids 43, 683690.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Koochesfahani, M. M. 1989 Vortical patterns in the wake of an oscillating airfoil. AIAA J. 27, 12001205.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sarkar, S. & Venkatraman, K. 2006 Numerical simulation of thrust generating flow past a pitching airfoil. Computers Fluids 35, 1642.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Singh, N., Aikat, S. & Basu, B. C. 1989 Potential flow calculation for three-dimensional wings and wing-body combination in oscillatory motion. AIAA J. 27, 16651666.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Triantafyllou, G., Triantafyllou, M. & Grosenbaugh, M. 1993 Optimal thrust development in oscillating foils with application to fish propulsion. J. Fluids Struct. 7, 205224.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tytell, E. D. & Lauder, G. V. 2004 The hydrodynamics of eel swimming i. wake structure. J. Expl Biol. 207, 18251841.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Usherwood, J., Hedrick, T., McGowan, C. & Biewener, A. 2005 Dynamic pressure maps for wings and tails of pigeons in slow, flapping flight, and their energetic implications. J. Expl Biol. 208, 355369.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Williamson, C. H. K. & Roshko, A. 1988 Vortex formation in the wake of an oscillating cylinder. J. Fluids Struct. 2, 355381.CrossRefGoogle Scholar