Aerodynamic improvement of oscillating airfoils efficiency at low Reynolds number by using of Gurney flaps

Low speed aerial vehicles which fly at low Reynolds number have been designed like Ornithopter birds to increase the range and reduce fuel consumption. The researches show that although the harmonic oscillating airfoils in upstroke generate more lift than fixed airfoils but sometimes reduction of power at downstroke is enormous. The aim of this study is aerodynamic improvement of low speed simple harmonic oscillation airfoils by using of gurney flap which present better aerodynamic efficiency in upstroke and downstroke than common oscillating airfoils. For this purpose, the pressure based finite volume element numerical method is used on a moving gird. In the present work, the location and height of gurney flaps as the two most important parameters have been studied. The results show, whatever the flaps be closer to trailing edge, the aerodynamic efficiency increases. However, the height should be limited to a certain extent. Generated Vortices by the flap Gurney play a major role in improving aerodynamic efficiency. These vortices by changing the pressure distribution and their effects on flow separation on the upper surface of the airfoil increase aerodynamic efficiency.