Investigation of Whitcomb’s Winglet Flow Behaviour using PIV and FLUENT

N. Yahaya; A. M. M. Ismail; N. A. Sabrin; Nurrul Amilin; A. Nalisa; Ilya Izyan; Y. Ramli

Authors

N. Yahaya Facilities Maintenance Engineering Section, Malaysian Institute of Industrial Technology (MITEC), Universiti Kuala Lumpur, 81750, Bandar Seri Alam, Johor, Malaysia
A. M. M. Ismail Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Johor, Kampus Pasir Gudang, 81750, Masai, Johor, Malaysia
N. A. Sabrin Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Johor, Kampus Pasir Gudang, 81750, Masai, Johor, Malaysia
Nurrul Amilin Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Johor, Kampus Pasir Gudang, 81750, Masai, Johor, Malaysia
A. Nalisa Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Johor, Kampus Pasir Gudang, 81750, Masai, Johor, Malaysia
Ilya Izyan Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Johor, Kampus Pasir Gudang, 81750, Masai, Johor, Malaysia
Y. Ramli Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 UTM, Skudai, Johor, Malaysia

Keywords:

Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) , FLUENT , Winglets , Whitcomb’s winglet

Abstract

The flow behavior around Whitcomb winglets were investigated using experimental approach and numerical study. The experimental approach uses PIV (Particle Image Velocimetry) while the numerical study uses FLUENT. The investigation was made for a Whitcomb’s winglet at water velocity of 2.34 m/s, at Re = 2.33x106and a clean wing also at the same configuration. This paper focuses on the connections of both and Whitcomb’s winglet and a clean wing and the formation of vortex around their winglets. From this investigation, it can be said that the vortex moves in a circular motion, from the bottom part of a winglet, which is the higher pressure part to the upper part of the winglet, which is the lower pressure part of the wingtip device. From this investigation, it was proved that the Whitcomb’s winglet produced better results compared to the clean wing in terms of the vorticity produced, thus reducing the induced drag.