Theses and Dissertations

Date of Award

8-2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Engineering (MSE)

Department

Mechanical Engineering

First Advisor

Isaac Choutapalli

Second Advisor

Arturo Fuentes

Third Advisor

Robert Freeman

Abstract

The increasing demand for better performance and maneuverability from airfoils to sustain superior performance over a wide range of platforms, including vehicles, propellers, and wing designs, continues to grow. Researchers have drawn inspiration from nature, looking at birds of prey, dragonflies, and humpback whales for aerodynamic improvements. Among these, tubercle airfoils, inspired by the humpback whale’s flipper, have gained increasing interest. This experimental study presents the results of bilateral tubercle leading-edge airfoils based on a modified NACA 0018 design with a chord length of 1.82 inches, a span width of 7.5 inches, and an amplitude of 6.3c%. Five configurations were tested: 8T, 14T, 16T, 20T, and 24T in a 12 x 12 x 36-inch test section at a velocity of 13 m/s and angles of attack ranging from 0° to 20°. Performance analysis showed the 20T airfoil provided the best overall lift-to-drag efficiency, followed by the 24T and 16T, while the 14T offered modest improvements over the baseline design. These results demonstrate the aerodynamic advantages of properly configured tubercle designs in enhancing airfoil efficiency and improving stall performance, providing valuable insights for applications that require increased lift and enhanced maneuverability.

Comments

Copyright 2025 Roberto Sanchez. All Rights Reserved. https://proquest.com/docview/3253955641

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