Optimising Leading-Edge Protuberances for Enhanced Post-Stall Performance of a Bio-Inspired Wing

This study employed numerical analysis in ANSYS Fluent to investigate the influence of leading-edge protuberances (LEPs) on wings with a NASA LS(1)-0417 cross-section, inspired by a humpback whale's flippers. Various parameters, including different wavelengths and amplitudes of protuberances, were explored. Numerical analyses were conducted at 8.815 m/s in a turbulent flow domain with a chord-based Reynolds number of 1.4 × 105, using a DES-based SST k-ω model. The wing was analysed at a 17° angle of attack using the response surface method in Minitab in order to increase the lift-to-drag ratio (CL/CD), which was the single objective for this study. Results showed significant aerodynamic improvements, with the optimised wing achieving a 7.7% increase in lift, a 4.55% reduction in drag and a 12.7% enhancement in the CL/CD compared to the baseline wing. These findings highlight the potential of LEPs to improve post-stall performance, providing valuable insights for aerodynamic optimisation and bio-inspired engineering applications, particularly in aircraft design and other systems.