Investigation of Blade-Vortex Interaction using a Morphing Wing

The vortex dynamics and the unsteady forces on a morphing wing were studied during parallel blade-vortex interactions (BVIs) of a tandem-wing configuration. Investigations were carried out in a towing tank using particle image velocimetry (PIV) and force sensor data. Vortices were generated by applying a rapid pitching motion to a leading rigid flat plate using a servo motor. The generated vortices collide with a morphing flat plate undergoing dynamic twisting. The interaction between the vortex and leading edge, the interaction between the vortex and the boundary layer, and the subsequent evolution of the vortex over the surface of the trailing plate were investigated for varying twisting kinematics. Vortex trajectory, sense, and strength were obtained from PIV data. The results were used to study the mechanisms of vortex decay and the effects of key parameters on vortex dynamics. The subsequent effects on the hydrodynamic forces experienced by the trailing plate are studied by analyzing the force sensor data in conjunction with PIV results.