Leading-Edge Tubercles on Swept and DeltaWing Configurations

The effects of leading-edge (LE) tubercles on the aerodynamic characteristics of the flipper, swept and delta wings are introduced here. Originated from the whale flipper, it has been demonstrated that LE tubercles could improve the aerodynamic performance of the flipper wing at high angles-of-attack. For the delta wing, the post-stall lift coefficient could be increased by the LE tubercles, while the drag coefficient is also increased, leading to a decrease in the lift-to-drag ratio. Opposite effects are observed on the swept wing due to the difference in test conditions. The study of control mechanism indicates that LE tubercles work as vortex generators to induce streamwise vortices, which are beneficial for flow separation control. Furthermore, the optimal parameters for the tubercles for flow control might differ at different conditions.