Investigation of the effects of bioinspired vortex generators on aerodynamic performance of a NACA0015 airfoil

An experimental study was carried out to investigate the effects of biomimetic vortex generators (biomimetic-VGs) on the aerodynamic performance of the NACA0015 airfoil. Aerodynamic force measurements and titanium dioxide (TiO₂) based flow visualization technique experiments were performed for test models at Re = 1.2 × 10⁵. Aerodynamic force measurement experiments were carried out in the wind tunnel at angles of attack of 0°-18° with an increment of 1°. As a result of the experiments, it was revealed that the lift coefficient (<i>C</i>_L) increased and the drag coefficient (<i>C</i>_D) decreased by using the seaconchshell structure as a VG for the wing model. In addition, it has been observed that biomimetic models (BMs) shifted the stall angle of the airfoil by 1°. In the surface oil flow visualization experiment results, the flow structure around the NACA0015 airfoil of BMs was revealed and interpreted. Moreover, it has been revealed that the aerodynamic performance of the airfoil increases as a result of the use of BMs. It is also revealed that the seaconchshell structure, which has not been studied before in the literature and which is the subject of this study, can be used as an effective flow control device.