Flow separation on flapping and rotating profiles with spanwise gradients

The growth of leading-edge vortices (LEV) on analogous flapping and rotating profiles has been investigated experimentally. Three time-varying cases were considered: a two-dimensional reference case with a spanwise-uniform angle-of-attack variation α; a case with increasing α towards the profile tip (similar to flapping flyers); and a case with increasing α towards the profile root (similar to rotor blades experiencing an axial gust). It has been shown that the time-varying spanwise angle-of-attack gradient produces a vorticity gradient, which, in combination with spanwise flow, results in a redistribution of circulation along the profile. Specifically, when replicating the angle-of-attack gradient characteristic of a rotor experiencing an axial gust, the spanwise-vorticity gradient is aligned such that circulation increases within the measurement domain. This in turn increases the local LEV growth rate, which is suggestive of force augmentation on the blade. Reversing the relative alignment of the spanwise-vorticity gradient and spanwise flow, thereby replicating that arrangement found in a flapping flyer, was found to reduce local circulation. From this, we can conclude that spanwise flow can be arranged to vary LEV growth to prolong lift augmentation and reduce the unsteadiness of cyclic loads.