Investigation of SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation as a Valid Tool for Analyzing Airfoil Performance Characteristics in Low Reynolds Number Flows

Abstract

The majority of unmanned aerial vehicles active currently and projected to be active in the future, operate within a low Reynolds number flow regime due to their size and flight envelope. As their popularity and applicability increases, a push for more efficient operation is demanded. One of the major contributors to an air vehicle's efficiency in flight is its airfoil geometry. Therefore, close examination of the flow around an airfoil and an accurate determination of its effectiveness is crucial to the development process for every aircraft. Low Reynolds number flows pose an added layer of difficulty as airfoils in this regime tend to exhibit complex phenomena, such as laminar separation bubbles, which strain conventional solution methods. Investigation of SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation software may present a valuable alternative or supplemental approach to accurate airfoil performance prediction in low Reynolds number flow regimes.