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Aerodynamics and Fluid Mechanics Commons

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Theses/Dissertations

Computational fluid dynamics

Doctoral Dissertations

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Full-Text Articles in Aerodynamics and Fluid Mechanics

Feasibility Study Of Slotted, Natural-Laminar-Flow Airfoils For High-Lift Applications, Hector David Ortiz Melendez Dec 2022

Feasibility Study Of Slotted, Natural-Laminar-Flow Airfoils For High-Lift Applications, Hector David Ortiz Melendez

Doctoral Dissertations

A computational fluid dynamics approach to evaluate the feasibility of a slotted, natural-laminar-flow airfoil designed for transonic applications, to perform as a high-lift system was developed. Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes equations with a laminar-turbulent transition model for subsonic flow at representative flight conditions were used for this analysis. Baseline high-lift simulations were performed to understand the stall characteristics of the slotted, natural-laminar-flow airfoil. Maximum aerodynamic efficiency was observed with a constant slot-width. In addition, the effectiveness of the aft-element as a high-lift device was explored. Results indicate that a micro-flap is a viable option as a lift effector. These are most effective …


Simulating The Effects Of Floating Platforms, Tilted Rotors, And Breaking Waves For Offshore Wind Turbines, Hannah Johlas Oct 2021

Simulating The Effects Of Floating Platforms, Tilted Rotors, And Breaking Waves For Offshore Wind Turbines, Hannah Johlas

Doctoral Dissertations

Offshore wind energy is a rapidly expanding source of renewable energy worldwide, but many aspects of offshore wind turbine behavior are still poorly understood and are not accurately captured by low-cost engineering models used in the design process. To help improve these models, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) can provide valuable insight into the complex fluid flows that affect offshore wind turbine power generation and structural loads. This research uses CFD simulations to examine three main topics important to future offshore wind development: how breaking waves affect structural loads for fixed-bottom wind turbines; how platform motions affect power generation, wake characteristics, …


Rough Airfoil Simulation For Wind Turbine Applications, Nathaniel B. Develder Mar 2020

Rough Airfoil Simulation For Wind Turbine Applications, Nathaniel B. Develder

Doctoral Dissertations

As a result of insects or other environmental fouling, surface roughness on wind turbine blades can reduce power output significantly. Superhydrophobic surfaces, though possibly a passive, cost-saving, answer to the problem of ice accretion on wind turbine rotors in cold climates, may alter turbulence development in the blade boundary layer similar to environmental roughness. This work uses an equivalent sand grain extension to the Turbulent Potential model to computationally assess the aerodynamic effects of surface roughness on the s809 airfoil, including a representational superhydrophobic surface. Rough surface boundary layer theory, application of the equivalent sand grain method, roughness parameter correlation, …