Investigation of Three-Dimensional Flow Around a Model Samara Wing Depending on the Angle of Attack

One of the engineering applications inspired by nature is bio-inspired wings. The aerodynamic properties and autorotation characteristics of samara wing models have been studied extensively using both experimental and numerical methods. However, the three-dimensional flow behavior and angle of attack interaction around a natural samara wing are not yet fully understood. This study investigates the flow behavior around a samara wing model, with the aim of underlying physics and qualitatively analyzing the flow field, as well as the aerodynamic forces and stresses. Since the samara wing and the flow around it are three-dimensional, the difficulty of experimental investigation was taken into account, and the numerical analysis was performed using Computational Fluid Dynamics techniques. The results obtained from the numerical solution of the governing equations for three-dimensional turbulent flow were verified with experimental data. The calculations were performed by varying the angle of attack of the model wing between 0 and 50 degrees at 10-degree intervals. Depending on the angle of attack, the velocity field around the wing, surface pressure, and stress distributions, vortex structures formed on the wing and streamlines were analyzed, and the results were presented. This study and its results on this model may lead to the development and optimization of the model and its use in turbines or air vehicles.