Experimental investigation of flow control by means of airfoil flapping
By: Jiannwoei Yue
Publisher: Naval Postgraduate School; Available from National Technical Information Service
Published: 1996
Place of publication: Monterey, Calif; Springfield, Va
Language: eng
Number of pages: 76
Description: Flapping airfoils generate thrust-producing jet-like wakes. It therefore is the objective of      this investigation to explore whether this feature can be used for effective flow control. To      this end, the flow characteristics of flapping airfoils are first explored in a water tunnel      experiment, using dye flow visualization and laser-doppler velocimeter. The effect of airfoil      flapping frequency and amplitude of oscillation and of flow velocity on the wake flow      characteristics are determined. This is followed by a second water tunnel experiment,      where a small flapping airfoil is mounted in and near the separated flow region caused by      the flow over a backward-facing step. The effect of airfoil size, location, frequency, and      amplitude of oscillation on the separated flow region is again determined by means of      laser-doppler velocimeter. It is found that the reattachment length of the separated flow      region can be reduced by as much as 70%
Notes: Thesis advisor(s): M.F. Platzer, J.C.S. Lai, Matthew Kelleher.

"September 1996."

Thesis  (M.S. in Mechanical Engineering) Naval Postgraduate School, September 1996.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 73-74)

Approved for public release; distribution unlimited.

Also available online.

Mode of access: World Wide Web.

System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Republic of China  Army author.

dk/dk cc:9996 03/01/97.