Guardado en:
Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Irwin, Benjamin, Toal, David, Krishna, Swathi
Formato: Preprint
Publicado: 2026
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.08277
Etiquetas: Agregar Etiqueta
Sin Etiquetas, Sea el primero en etiquetar este registro!
_version_ 1866910046318755840
author Irwin, Benjamin
Toal, David
Krishna, Swathi
author_facet Irwin, Benjamin
Toal, David
Krishna, Swathi
contents This study investigates the influence of aerofoil shape optimisation on blade aerodynamic performance under curvilinear and unsteady kinematics characteristic of vertical-axis turbines and cycloidal propellers. Using a cyclorotor in hover as a representative configuration, aerofoil optimisation was performed using two-dimensional unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes simulations coupled with Kriging. The optimised design was subsequently validated experimentally through force measurements and flow-field characterisation using particle image velocimetry. Performance was enhanced through the suppression of leading-edge vortex separation during the primary thrust peak. This finding also reveals a governing constraint: the effectiveness of aerofoil optimisation depends on dynamic stall severity. Under light dynamic stall, geometric modification promotes vortex attachment and improves aerodynamic loading. Under deep dynamic stall, flow separation dominates the blade aerodynamics, and aerofoil shape modification cannot suppress leading-edge vortex shedding. The stall severity is regulated by rotor solidity through its influence on the induced throughflow-to-blade-speed ratio and the resulting effective incidence. Aerofoil optimisation is therefore viable primarily in high-solidity configurations that operate within a moderated stall regime. These findings establish a physics-based condition for aerofoil optimisation in curvilinear dynamic stall environments.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2603_08277
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle The Role of Dynamic Stall in Aerofoil Shape Optimisation for Curvilinear Blade Kinematics
Irwin, Benjamin
Toal, David
Krishna, Swathi
Fluid Dynamics
This study investigates the influence of aerofoil shape optimisation on blade aerodynamic performance under curvilinear and unsteady kinematics characteristic of vertical-axis turbines and cycloidal propellers. Using a cyclorotor in hover as a representative configuration, aerofoil optimisation was performed using two-dimensional unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes simulations coupled with Kriging. The optimised design was subsequently validated experimentally through force measurements and flow-field characterisation using particle image velocimetry. Performance was enhanced through the suppression of leading-edge vortex separation during the primary thrust peak. This finding also reveals a governing constraint: the effectiveness of aerofoil optimisation depends on dynamic stall severity. Under light dynamic stall, geometric modification promotes vortex attachment and improves aerodynamic loading. Under deep dynamic stall, flow separation dominates the blade aerodynamics, and aerofoil shape modification cannot suppress leading-edge vortex shedding. The stall severity is regulated by rotor solidity through its influence on the induced throughflow-to-blade-speed ratio and the resulting effective incidence. Aerofoil optimisation is therefore viable primarily in high-solidity configurations that operate within a moderated stall regime. These findings establish a physics-based condition for aerofoil optimisation in curvilinear dynamic stall environments.
title The Role of Dynamic Stall in Aerofoil Shape Optimisation for Curvilinear Blade Kinematics
topic Fluid Dynamics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.08277