The effect of vortex generators having Clark-Y airfoil on tapered swept-back wing

Abstract

In the experimental study, the effects of vortex generators (VGs) having Clark-Y airfoil and triangular VGs are investigated. The tests were carried out on a tapered swept-back wing at Re = 6.0×104 using counter-rotating vortex generators having Clark-Y airfoil at five different locations that are x/c= 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, and 0.5 and triangular VGs at x/c=0.1 location. A load cell is used to measure forces at angles of attack (AoA) ranging from 0° to 30°. It is observed that the maximum lift coefficient (CLmax) and aerodynamic performance of VGs having Clark-Y airfoil decrease when the position of the vortex generators changes from 0.1 to 0.5. The optimal results obtained from the study show that the tapered swept-back wing with the VGs having Clark-Y airfoil exhibits a significant increase of 37.5% in the CLmax and approximately 55% in the lift to drag ratio (L/D) at x/c=0.1 compared to the baseline. At low AoA, the VGs having Clark-Y airfoil provided better lift, whereas at high AoA, the triangular VGs provided better lift.