Research Information System
Euroasia Journal of Mathematics, Engineering, Natural & Medical Sciences, vol.7, no.8, pp.126-136, 2020 (Peer-Reviewed Journal)
Abstract
Airfoils which are designed to take advantage of aerodynamic forces, are standardized and
widely used in air vehicles and turbomachinery. However, non-standard airfoil designs are
also being investigated. These also include studies inspired by the wings of insects and birds
and the tails of fish. This study is devoted to maple seeds which can be carried far away by
the wind. Size ratios of the maple seed were obtained from the measurements taken on
different seeds. Besides, the 3D model of a sample seed was transferred to a computer
environment by means of a 3D scanner. A CFD study was performed to obtain aerodynamic
characteristics of this model airfoil.
The two-dimensional airfoil formed by considering the mid-section of the 3D model was
examined in the CFD study. The solution area was divided into hexa mesh, and inlet and
outlet boundary conditions were defined. In the solution, Spalart Almaras and k-ε was used as
a turbulence model. Also the k-omega turbulence model was used together with the standard
wall function and SST. The mathematical and numerical models used in the solution were
first applied to the standard NACA 0015 profile with known characteristics, and a validation
study was performed. Then, the analysis of the new bio-inspired design was carried out.
Analyzes were repeated at different Re numbers and attack angles. The results obtained in this
study were compared and evaluated.
Keywords: airfoils, computational fluid dynamics, bio-inspired wing, biomimicry,
aerodynamics, samara (maple seed).