Streamwise vortices, cellular shedding and force coefficients on finite wing at low Reynolds number

Numerical simulations for flow past a finite rectangular wing with a NACA 0012 section at $Re=1000$ for various semi-aspect ratios ( 0.25≤ sAR ≤ 7.5 ) over a range of angles of attack ( 0∘≤ α ≤ 14∘ ) reveal streamwise vortices, which increase in strength and number to occupy an increasing spanwise extent with increase in α . They result in non-monotonic spanwise variation of local force coefficients and increased strength of wing-tip vortex for α >8∘ . Viscous and pressure drag dominate for low and high sAR, respectively. The time-averaged drag coefficient first decreases and then increases with increase in $sAR$ . Vortex shedding for α =14∘ is single cell and parallel for $sAR<3$ . Shedding is in two cells with an oblique angle that varies with time, leading to large spanwise variation in the root mean square of local force coefficients for higher $sAR$ . Various types of dislocations, reported earlier in wakes of bluff bodies, are seen for different α and $sAR$ . Dislocations for α =14∘ appear at the same spanwise location for $sAR=3$ and at different spanwise locations for sAR≥ 4 . Vortex shedding for α =12∘ and $sAR=5$ exhibits one cell structure in the near wake and two cells in the far wake due to splitting and reconnection of vortices near the mid-span in the moderate wake. Linkages form between counter-rotating spanwise vortices for sAR≥ 1 . Additional linkages between shed- and wing-tip vortices are observed for lower $sAR$ . At each α , the strength of the wing-tip vortex and radius of its core, estimated using Rankine and Lamb–Oseen models, increases up to a certain $sAR$ beyond which it is approximately constant.