Lagrangian-based investigation of the transient flow structures around a pitching hydrofoil

Abstract: The objective of this paper is to address the transient flow structures around a pitching hydrofoil by combining physical and numerical studies. In order to predict the dynamic behavior of the flow structure effectively, the Lagrangian coherent structures (LCS) defined by the ridges of the finite-time Lyapunov exponent (FTLE) are utilized under the framework of Navier–Stokes flow computations. In the numerical simulations, the (Formula presented.) shear stress transport (SST) turbulence model, coupled with a two-equation (Formula presented.) transition model, is used for the turbulence closure. Results are presented for a NACA66 hydrofoil undergoing slowly and rapidly pitching motions from (Formula presented.) to (Formula presented.) then back to (Formula presented.) at a moderate Reynolds number (Formula presented.). The results reveal that the transient flow structures can be observed by the LCS method. For the slowly pitching case, it consists of five stages: quasi-steady and laminar, transition from laminar to turbulent, vortex development, large-scale vortex shedding, and reverting to laminar. The observation of LCS and Lagrangian particle tracers elucidates that the trailing edge vortex is nearly attached and stable during the vortex development stage and the interaction between the leading and trailing edge vortex caused by the adverse pressure gradient forces the vortexes to shed downstream during the large-scale vortex shedding stage, which corresponds to obvious fluctuations of the hydrodynamic response. For the rapidly pitching case, the inflection is hardly to be observed and the stall is delayed. The vortex formation, interaction, and shedding occurred once instead of being repeated three times, which is responsible for just one fluctuation in the hydrodynamic characteristics. The numerical results also show that the FTLE field has the potential to identify the transient flows, and the LCS can represent the divergence extent of infinite neighboring particles and capture the interface of the vortex region. Graphical Abstract: In this paper, the transient flow structures around a pitching hydrofoil are studied with the FTLE and the LCS. The observation of LCS and Lagrangian particle tracers elucidates the vortex development and interactions. The numerical results also show that the FTLE field has the potential to identify the transient flows, and the ridges of FTLE, LCS, can represent the divergence extent of infinite neighboring particles and capture the interface of the vortex region. [Figure not available: see fulltext.]