The new airfoil model NACA0015, modal analysis and flutter properties

The experimental airfoil model NACA0015 was used to study aeroelastic phenomena during self-excited profile vibration. It provides data for control of aeroelastic calculation programs at subsonic speeds of the stream. The model movability is two-dimensional with two-degree of freedom dynamic system, one in pitch and the second in plunge, and is proposed to be a dynamic system having two near corresponding eigenfrequencies. To quantitatively evaluate flow field using interferometry, a special test section design and profile was constructed. It utilized a large visual field for the optical system together with the option of changing support stiffness for both degrees of freedom. In this paper experimental results from the range of Reynolds numbers Re = (2.63–2.83) 10^5 are published. The identified eigenvalues and eigenmodes for zero flow velocity are compared with measured flutter properties (frequency, modes and time evolutions) of the airfoil.