Work

Aerodynamic characteristics of circulation control airfoils with Magnus rotating cylinder

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: In the aerodynamic performance optimization for aircraft, although both the Magnus effect and the Coanda effect have demonstrated significant potential increasing lift, reducing drag, and enabling flow control, the complex flow mechanisms arising from their coupled application remain insufficiently explored, which to some extent limits their engineering implementation. Major challenges in active flow control include structural vibrations and additional energy consumption induced by the Magnus effect, as well as uncertainties in flow separation and attachment behavior of the Coanda jet under varying conditions. To address these issues, the study proposes an innovative configuration that integrates a rotating trailing-edge cylinder with internal jet blowing to combine both effects within a single airfoil structure. Utilizing a unified numerical modeling approach, the research systematically investigates the influence of different jet momentum coefficients (Cµ) and freestream Mach numbers (Ma) on the aerodynamic characteristics and coupled control performance of the airfoil. The results reveal that at moderate jet intensities (Cµ = 0.075), an optimal lift-to-drag ratio can be achieved under limited energy consumption, while higher Ma values, despite reducing aerodynamic efficiency, significantly suppress aerodynamic load oscillations, contributing to improved flight stability. By establishing an evaluation framework focusing on both aerodynamic performance and energy consumption, this study identifies two factors influencing the effectiveness of coupled control, thereby filling a gap in the research on Magnus–Coanda coupled control performance and providing a theoretical foundation for the engineering application of active flow control systems under multi-condition cases.

Source: Engineering Applications of Computational Fluid Mechanics

DOI: 10.1080/19942060.2025.2545886

Authors: Yunlong Zhao, Chenglin Zhou, Shibo Lee, Yang Zhang, Jianfeng Zou, Yao Zheng

Institution: Zhejiang University

Language: English

Topic: Plasma and Flow Control in Aerodynamics

Subfield: Aerospace Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,993

Funders: National Natural Science Foundation of China, Zhejiang University