DISCRETE VORTEX METHOD FOR SIMULATING UNSTEADY-FLOW AROUND PITCHING AEROFOILS

A modified discrete vortex method to simulate the separated flow aroun d an aerofoil undergoing pitching motion is described. The vorticity g enerated in the thin layer around the body is discretized into vortice s in accordance with the multipanel surface representation. By convect ion and diffusion the vortices are released from the body and advanced in the wake as determined by the Biot-Savart law and random-walk mode l, respectively. Both unsteady static and pitching cases are presented , and comparison with the test data illustrates that, without prior kn owledge of the developing separation and reattachment points for the m odel, good agreement has been achieved.