Oscillating airfoils and their wake

Abstract

The unsteady phenomena in the wake of an oscillating wing or rotor blade are examined theoretically using the Prandtl approximation of the vortex-transport equation. A mathematical model is developed and applied to such problems as the effect of winglets on the performance of fixed wings and the possibly of employing similar designs in rotor blades. Model predictions for several profiles are compared with published and experimental measurements, and good agreement is found. Graphs and diagrams are provided.