Investigation on airfoil operating in Ground Effect region

  • Authors

    • Nikhil Pillai Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology
    • Anil T. Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology
    • Aravind Radhakrishnan Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology
    • Rahul Vinod Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology
    • Sudheesh Kumar E. Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology
    • Zahir Zaid Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology
    • Antony Jacob Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology
    • Manojkumar M. Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology
    2014-11-16
    https://doi.org/10.14419/ijet.v3i4.3245
  • Airfoil, Aerodynamic Efficiency, Angle Of Attack, Coefficient of Lift and Drag, Height/Chord Ratio.
  • The idea of using a wing in ground effect vehicle has been suggested with the objective of developing a very economical and efficient means of rapid transportation across water bodies. This paper investigates into wing in ground effect airfoil geometry. ANSYS is used to perform the CFD analysis of the airfoils. CFD analysis has been performed on various airfoils operating in the ground effect region and a special class of airfoil called DHMTU has been found to have maximum aerodynamic efficiency. The DHMTU studied here is DHMTU 8-40-2-10-3-6-2-15. Aerodynamic efficiency for this particular airfoil has been determined through CFD analysis at various angles of attack. It has been found that the DHMTU possesses superior aerodynamic efficiency at low angle of attack and the maximum aerodynamic efficiency is found at 60 angle of attack. From CFD analysis it has also been determined that as the proximity to the ground reduces, the value of lift increases. The characteristics of this airfoil at various air speeds have also been determined through CFD analysis. These studies have illustrated the unique characteristics of the DHMTU airfoils and indicated areas for further optimization of the design of ground effect airfoils. The use of this airfoil for the ground effect vehicle can further lead to increase in efficiency of the craft.

    Abbreviations:

    CFD                        Computational Fluid Dynamics

    DHMTU                Department Of Hydro-Mechanics of the Marine Technical University

    NACA                    National Advisory Committee on Aeronautics

    L/D                         Lift to Drag Ratio

    WIG                       Wing in Ground

    V                             Free stream velocity

    Re                           Reynolds number 

    h/c                          Height to Chord Ratio

    CL                          Coefficient of lift

    CD                          Coefficient of drag

    AOA                       Angle Of Attack

  • References

    1. John D Anderson, Introduction to Flight Tata McGraw - Hill Education, France, Airfoils Wings and other Aerodynamic shapes.
    2. A.C. Kermode, Mechanics of flight, Pearson Higher Education, United Kingdom, Airfoils Subsonic speeds, 2012.
    3. 2010 Liang Yun • Alan Bliault • Johnny Doo, WIG Craft and Ekranoplan (Springer)
    4. Kirill V. Rozhdestvensky, Wing-in-ground effect vehicles, Progress in Aerospace Sciences 42 (2006) 211– 283 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.paerosci.2006.10.001.
    5. M.R. Ahmed, S.D. Sharma, An investigation on the aerodynamics of a symmetrical airfoil in ground effect, Experimental Thermal and Fluid Science 29 (2005) 633–647 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.expthermflusci.2004.09.001.
    6. N.Moore, Professor P A.Wilson, A J.Peters, An Investigation Into Wing In Ground Effect Airfoil Geometry, School of Engineering Sciences, University of Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK QinetiQ Haslar.
    7. S.C. Rhodesa and A.T. Sayersb, Experimental Investigation: Stability Criteria of an Uncambered Airfoil in Ground Effect, R & D Journal of the South African Institution of Mechanical Engineering 2009, 25
    8. Ng Geok Hean, Wing in Ground (WIG) Aircraft – Aerodynamics, National University of Singapore.
    9. Daniel J. Walter, Study of Aerofoils at High Angle of Attack, in Ground Effect, School Of Aerospace, Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering Portfolio Of Science, Engineering & Technology Rmit University.
    10. E.M. Smutsa and A.T. Sayersa, CFD Study of a Wing in Close Proximity to a Flat and Wavy Ground Plane, R & D Journal of the South African Institution of Mechanical Engineering 2011, 27, 1-9.
  • Downloads

  • How to Cite

    Pillai, N., T., A., Radhakrishnan, A., Vinod, R., Kumar E., S., Zaid, Z., Jacob, A., & M., M. (2014). Investigation on airfoil operating in Ground Effect region. International Journal of Engineering & Technology, 3(4), 540-544. https://doi.org/10.14419/ijet.v3i4.3245