Effect of Gurney Flap Configuration on Airfoil Aerodynamics

Abstract

Gurney flaps are used at the trailing edge of the pressure surface of airfoil to increase lift coefficient at a small drag penalty. Extensive computational and experimental investigations are carried out on Gurney flap applications in airfoils. In all the investigations carried out so far only a flat Gurney flap was used. In recent publications, the effect of different configurations of Gurney flap on the turbomachinery aerodynamics is examined. The present paper reports the effect of different configurations of Gurney flap on the airfoil aerodynamics. The computations are carried out on the basic airfoil (NACA0012) and airfoil with flat Gurney flap (FF), with quarter round Gurney flap (QR), and with concave curved Gurney flap (CC). The computations are carried out at different angles of attack. From the computations, lift and drag coefficients, static pressure coefficients and streamlines are obtained and compared to identify the best configuration.