A study of cross-sectional shape of wing for underwater glider at low reynolds number region

Abstract

Underwater glider is the glider to use for environmental researches in lake and sea. The Reynolds number of flow around underwater glider is between about 104 ~105 and the research for the aerodynamic characteristics of such low Reynolds number region is not so much. So in this study, we investigate the aerodynamic characteristics for various airfoils of under-water glider at low Reynolds number by the towing water tank experiment and 3-dimensional numerical analysis using STAR-CCM+ by IDAJ co. ltd. As results of experiment, the lift-drag ratio of airfoils with camber become larger than those of flat plate. As results of numerical analysis, the effect of maximum camber ratio and maximum camber position and thickness ratio on aerodynamic characteristics and optimum cross-sectional shape of wing for underwater glider are found. © 2013 The Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers.