Evaluation effect of Gurney flap structure on airfoil aerodynamic characteristics

In this thesis, the effect of the Gurney flap Structure on airfoil aerodynamic characteristics is examined. NACA 0012 airfoil profile which has various usage areas and is a symmetrical airfoil, is used. The study is occurred numerically by the Computational Fluid Dynamic program. In the Study where airfoil chord Lenght is equaled to 1m, Reynolds number depends on chord lenght and Re=1×〖10〗^6. Air is chosen for Fluid in analyses. Reynolds number is a constant parameter in this study. Gurney flap angle, angle of attack, the geometry of Gurney flap, and turbulence model are variable parameters in the study. Spalart-Allmaras (S-A) and Shear Stress Transport (SST) k-ω turbulence Models which are used often in aeronautics applications are used as turbulence Models. Data of turbulence Models are compared with data of literature and data of SST k-ω turbulence model has 0,975 correlation coefficient with data of literature. S-A turbulence model data has a 0,961 correlation coefficient with literature. When correlation coefficients of two turbulence models are considered, there is inferred as the SST k-ω turbulence Model has truer results. The Gurney flap angle which is used in the study is optimum when it is equaled to 90° and this situation corresponds to previous studies. When Gurney flap angle is equaled to 90° which is determined as optimum flap angle, there are increments as 90%; 50,27%; 36,03%; 27,04%; 18,36%; 6,39% at angle of attack as, 3°, 6°, 9°, 12°, 15°, 18°, respectively. Using half Gurney flap Structure instead of 90° Gurney flap is observed increments as %15,92; %7,38; %5,33; %4,44; %4,39; %2,83; %6,715 at angle of attack as 3°, 6°, 9°, 12°, 15°, 18° respectively. When the aerodynamic efficiency of half Gurney flap and 90° Single Gurney flap are compared, the highest increase is observed as 11.11% at angle of attack of 0°. In the examination of Gurney flap geometry, half Gurney flap structure has similar classic Gurney flap aerodynamic characteristics so there is an inferred that using half Gurney flap Structure is more advantage than using classic Gurney flap structure in regards to weight in an application