IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v18y2025i11p2884-d1668747.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Harmonic Pitching NACA 0018 Airfoil in Low Reynolds Number Flow

Author

Listed:
  • Jan Michna

    (Institute of Aeronautics and Applied Mechanics, Warsaw University of Technology, Nowowiejska 24, 00-665 Warsaw, Poland)

  • Maciej Śledziewski

    (Institute of Aeronautics and Applied Mechanics, Warsaw University of Technology, Nowowiejska 24, 00-665 Warsaw, Poland)

  • Krzysztof Rogowski

    (Institute of Aeronautics and Applied Mechanics, Warsaw University of Technology, Nowowiejska 24, 00-665 Warsaw, Poland)

Abstract

This study investigates the aerodynamic performance of a symmetric NACA 0018 airfoil under harmonic pitching motions at low Reynolds numbers, a regime characterized by the presence of laminar separation bubbles and their impact on aerodynamic forces. The analysis encompasses oscillation frequencies of 1 Hz, 2 Hz, and 13.3 Hz, with amplitudes of 4° and 8°, along with steady-state simulations conducted for angles of attack up to 20° to validate the numerical model. The results reveal that the γ-Re θ turbulence model provides improved predictions of aerodynamic forces at higher Reynolds numbers but struggles at lower Reynolds numbers, where laminar flow effects dominate. The inclusion of the 13.3 Hz frequency, relevant to Darrieus vertical-axis wind turbines, demonstrates the effectiveness of the model in capturing dynamic hysteresis loops and reduced oscillations, in contrast to the k-ω SST model. Comparisons with XFOIL further highlight the challenges in accurately modeling laminar-to-turbulent transitions and dynamic flow phenomena. These findings offer valuable insights into the aerodynamic behavior of thick airfoils under low Reynolds number conditions and contribute to the advancement of turbulence modeling, particularly in applications involving vertical-axis wind turbines.

Suggested Citation

  • Jan Michna & Maciej Śledziewski & Krzysztof Rogowski, 2025. "The Harmonic Pitching NACA 0018 Airfoil in Low Reynolds Number Flow," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-27, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2025:i:11:p:2884-:d:1668747
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/11/2884/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/11/2884/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Rogowski, Krzysztof & Michna, Jan & Mikkelsen, Robert Flemming & Ferreira, Carlos Simao, 2025. "Impact of zigzag tape on blade loads and aerodynamic wake in a vertical axis wind turbine: A Delft VAWT case study," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 321(C).
    2. Rezaeiha, Abdolrahim & Montazeri, Hamid & Blocken, Bert, 2019. "On the accuracy of turbulence models for CFD simulations of vertical axis wind turbines," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 180(C), pages 838-857.
    3. Tescione, G. & Ragni, D. & He, C. & Simão Ferreira, C.J. & van Bussel, G.J.W., 2014. "Near wake flow analysis of a vertical axis wind turbine by stereoscopic particle image velocimetry," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 47-61.
    4. Rezaeiha, Abdolrahim & Kalkman, Ivo & Blocken, Bert, 2017. "CFD simulation of a vertical axis wind turbine operating at a moderate tip speed ratio: Guidelines for minimum domain size and azimuthal increment," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 107(C), pages 373-385.
    5. Unnikrishnan Divakaran & Ajith Ramesh & Akram Mohammad & Ratna Kishore Velamati, 2021. "Effect of Helix Angle on the Performance of Helical Vertical Axis Wind Turbine," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(2), pages 1-24, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Barnes, Andrew & Marshall-Cross, Daniel & Hughes, Ben Richard, 2021. "Towards a standard approach for future Vertical Axis Wind Turbine aerodynamics research and development," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 148(C).
    2. Tomar, Shivam Singh & Dewan, Anupam, 2025. "Investigating wake characteristics of savonius turbine for off-grid wind energy: Analyzing operating influences," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 316(C).
    3. Rogowski, Krzysztof & Michna, Jan & Mikkelsen, Robert Flemming & Ferreira, Carlos Simao, 2025. "Impact of zigzag tape on blade loads and aerodynamic wake in a vertical axis wind turbine: A Delft VAWT case study," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 321(C).
    4. Hassan, Syed Saddam ul & Javaid, M. Tariq & Rauf, Umar & Nasir, Sheharyar & Shahzad, Aamer & Salamat, Shuaib, 2023. "Systematic investigation of power enhancement of Vertical Axis Wind Turbines using bio-inspired leading edge tubercles," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 270(C).
    5. Hesami, Ali & Nikseresht, Amir H., 2023. "Towards development and optimization of the Savonius wind turbine incorporated with a wind-lens," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 274(C).
    6. Lakshmi Srinivasan & Nishanth Ram & Sudharshan Bharatwaj Rengarajan & Unnikrishnan Divakaran & Akram Mohammad & Ratna Kishore Velamati, 2023. "Effect of Macroscopic Turbulent Gust on the Aerodynamic Performance of Vertical Axis Wind Turbine," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-24, February.
    7. Rezaeiha, Abdolrahim & Micallef, Daniel, 2021. "Wake interactions of two tandem floating offshore wind turbines: CFD analysis using actuator disc model," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 179(C), pages 859-876.
    8. Kuang, Limin & Katsuchi, Hiroshi & Zhou, Dai & Chen, Yaoran & Han, Zhaolong & Zhang, Kai & Wang, Jiaqi & Bao, Yan & Cao, Yong & Liu, Yijie, 2023. "Strategy for mitigating wake interference between offshore vertical-axis wind turbines: Evaluation of vertically staggered arrangement," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 351(C).
    9. Liu, Qingsong & Miao, Weipao & Ye, Qi & Li, Chun, 2022. "Performance assessment of an innovative Gurney flap for straight-bladed vertical axis wind turbine," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 185(C), pages 1124-1138.
    10. Celik, Yunus & Ingham, Derek & Ma, Lin & Pourkashanian, Mohamed, 2022. "Design and aerodynamic performance analyses of the self-starting H-type VAWT having J-shaped aerofoils considering various design parameters using CFD," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 251(C).
    11. Kouaissah, O. & Franchina, N. & Siddiqui, M.S. & Persico, G., 2024. "A computational study on the performance and wake development of a tilted H-Shaped VAWT rotor," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 222(C).
    12. Rezaeiha, Abdolrahim & Montazeri, Hamid & Blocken, Bert, 2019. "Active flow control for power enhancement of vertical axis wind turbines: Leading-edge slot suction," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 189(C).
    13. Franchina, N. & Kouaissah, O. & Persico, G. & Savini, M., 2022. "Three-dimensional modeling and investigation of the flow around a troposkein vertical axis wind turbine at different operating conditions," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 199(C), pages 368-381.
    14. Peng, H.Y. & Liu, M.N. & Liu, H.J. & Lin, K., 2022. "Optimization of twin vertical axis wind turbines through large eddy simulations and Taguchi method," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 240(C).
    15. Thé, Jesse & Yu, Hesheng, 2017. "A critical review on the simulations of wind turbine aerodynamics focusing on hybrid RANS-LES methods," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 257-289.
    16. Wang, Zhenyu & Zhuang, Mei, 2017. "Leading-edge serrations for performance improvement on a vertical-axis wind turbine at low tip-speed-ratios," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 208(C), pages 1184-1197.
    17. Krzysztof Rogowski, 2019. "CFD Computation of the H-Darrieus Wind Turbine—The Impact of the Rotating Shaft on the Rotor Performance," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(13), pages 1-17, June.
    18. Rezaeiha, Abdolrahim & Kalkman, Ivo & Blocken, Bert, 2017. "Effect of pitch angle on power performance and aerodynamics of a vertical axis wind turbine," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 197(C), pages 132-150.
    19. Tirandaz, M. Rasoul & Rezaeiha, Abdolrahim, 2021. "Effect of airfoil shape on power performance of vertical axis wind turbines in dynamic stall: Symmetric Airfoils," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 173(C), pages 422-441.
    20. Rezaeiha, Abdolrahim & Montazeri, Hamid & Blocken, Bert, 2019. "On the accuracy of turbulence models for CFD simulations of vertical axis wind turbines," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 180(C), pages 838-857.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2025:i:11:p:2884-:d:1668747. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.