Prediction of oscillating thick cambered aerofoil aerodynamics by a locally analytic method

A complete first‐order model and locally analytic solution method are developed to analyse the effects of mean flow incidence and aerofoil camber and thickness on the incompressible aerodynamics of an oscillating aerofoil. This method incorporates analytic solutions, with the discrete algebraic equations which represent the differential flow field equations obtained from analytic solutions in individual grid elements. The velocity potential is separated into steady and unsteady harmonic parts, with the unsteady potential further decomposed into circulatory and non‐circulatory components. These velocity potentials are individually described by Laplace equations. The steady velocity potential is independent of the unsteady flow field. However, the unsteady flow is coupled to the steady flow field through the boundary conditions on the oscillating aerofoil. A body‐fitted computational grid is then utilized. Solutions for both the steady and the coupled unsteady flow fields are obtained by a locally analytic numerical method in which locally analytic solutions in individual grid elements are determined. The complete flow field solution is obtained by assembling these locally analytic solutions. This model and solution method are shown to accurately predict the Theodorsen oscillating flat plate classical solution. Locally analytic solutions for a series of Joukowski aerofoils demonstrate the strong coupling between the aerofoil unsteady and steady flow fields, i.e. the strong dependence of the oscillating aerofoil aerodynamics on the steady flow effects of mean flow incidence angle and aerofoil camber and thickness.