Abstract
Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to identifying ways to reduce the effects of wing-vortex interaction by applying surface porosity on selected areas of the exposed surface. A number of papers recently have investigated the aerodynamic implication of free-stream vortices impinging upon airfoils.
Design/methodology/approach - The free-stream disturbance in these studies were represented by planting a vortex ahead of the wing or using some other disturbance invoking mechanism like von-Karman vortices in the wake of a cylinder or using a flipping plate to invoke a discrete vortex. In the present work, a well-defined method was used to germinate a system of controlled vortices of known strength, size and frequency ahead of the wing, and the impact of the subsequent interaction was studied with and without the presence of the surface porosity. The simulations tackled a number of cases when porosities of up to 20 and 22 per cent were applied to selected regions near the leading edge, with vortices of controlled strengths directed at the wing surface.
Findings - The results showed that the effects of large vortices spanning the entire lengths of the wing can indeed be damped when porosity is selectively applied at strategic regions.
Practical implications - Surface porosity application at strategic regions of a wing may dampen the effects of the unsteadiness of the incoming flow. This has profound implications on flight safety and structural damage prevention. Further implications could possibly be extended to UAV and wind turbines that operate at heavy gusting environment.
Originality/value - Implementation of this particular method resolves some of the issues arisen when an airplane encounters atmospheric turbulence.