Spanwise Variation in the Unsteady Stalling Flowfields of Two-Dimensional
Airfoil Models
Andy P. Broeren and Michael B. Bragg
University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801
ABSTRACT
Recent investigations of two-dimensional airfoil stalling
characteristics have revealed low-frequency and highly unsteady flow in some
cases and large-scale three-dimensional structures in other cases. The latter
were referred to as "stall cells" and may form on two-dimensional configurations
where the ends of the airfoil model are flush with tunnel side walls or end
plates. This paper presents results of detailed investigations of the stalling
characteristics of several airfoils that exhibited both low-frequency unsteadiness
and large-scale three-dimensional structures. The airfoils were wind-tunnel
tested in a two-dimensional configuration. The primary measurements were spanwise
wake velocity and mini-tuft flow visualization. The results showed that airfoils
with trailing-edge separations at and above maximum lift (static stall) exhibited
stall-cell patterns. Conversely, airfoils that had leading-edge separation
bubbles that grew in size as the angle of attack was increased into stall
developed the low-frequency, highly unsteady flow. This unsteadiness was
found to be essentially two dimensional. Therefore, the development of either
of these phenomena appears to be determined by the characteristics of the
boundary-layer separation leading up to the stall.