Abstract
This paper investigates improving the leading-edge of a hydrofoil with sinusoidal protuberances based on its hydrodynamic performance. The original hydrofoil geometry was inspired by the leading edge of the flipper of a humpback whale. A multi-step optimization process was performed for a 634-021 hydrofoil. The free-form deformation technique defined the shape parameters as a variable design, and these parameters included the amplitude of the leading-edge protuberances, which ranged from 0 to 20% of the chord length, and the corrugate span, with 3 and 4 crests. The flow characteristics of a parametric hydrofoil were examined using a CFD solver, and the lift, drag, and lift-to-drag ratio (L/D) were computed as responses to the optimization cycle. To accomplish this, two design study methods were sequentially applied at different angles of attack. A full factorial design sweep tool was applied that went through all parameter value combinations, and an RBF-based surrogate model was constructed to investigate the system behavior. The results indicated the existence of an optimum design point, and the highest L/D ratio was determined to be 10.726 at a 12° angle of attack.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 116-123 |
Journal | Scientific Journals of the Maritime University of Szczecin |
Volume | 62 |
Issue number | 134 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 29 Jun 2020 |
Keywords
- humpback whale flippers
- leading-edge protuberances
- free-form deformation (FFD)
- surrogate model
- CFD
- lift-to-drag ratio (L/D)