The Harmonic Pitching NACA 0018 Airfoil in Low Reynolds Number Flow

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.