2D PIV of a pitching airfoil

Two dimensional particle image velocimetry (PIV) experiments were performed at the midspan of a sinusoidally pitching NACA 0020 airfoil. Measurements were taken for a range of Strouhal numbers up to 0.4 and at various Reynolds numbers. In addition, the velocity field around the airfoil moving in quiescent flow was obtained. The flow is measured in a phase-averaged sense. Far field measurements of the surrounding flow field are presented in order to investigate the generation and propagation of the wake of the pitching motion. Near field measurements are also presented at the leading edge of the airfoil in order to resolve and investigate the behavior of the dynamics stall vortex and the shear layer.