An aerodynamic optimization design study on the bio-inspired airfoil with leading-edge tubercles

Abstract

The aim of the paper is to propose a groundbreaking method for the aerodynamic optimization design of the bioinspired wing with leading-edge tubercles. An emphasis on the optimization design of the spanwise waviness in the leading edge for delaying stall and increasing lift from the aerodynamic performance perspective has been laid in this study. For the conversion of the wavy configuration, the form parameterized approach using F-spline curves has been used to produce more variants of the leading-edge tubercles. Numerical investigations of flow characteristics which are performed using CFD computations have been used to validate the numerical scheme with experimental data. The combination of Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II and Response Surface Method based Kriging Model has been adopted as the aerodynamic optimization strategy. As consequence, the three main components of the optimization process are incorporated into the establishment of the aerodynamic optimization design system for the bio-inspired airfoil with leading-edge tubercles. The four optimal airfoils respectively which increases the stall angle as well as the lift have been obtained in contrast to the smooth wing. The optimized bio-inspired design of this kind can be applied to flow-controlled devices for improving the efficiency of a particular operating mechanism.