A study at the University of Bahrain (UoB), which is the first of its kind in the field of aerodynamics, concluded that the development of certain parts of the wing section of the aircraft contributes to reducing fuel consumption by about 12%, as well as air resistance and increasing air capacity lift, especially in civil and cargo flights.
The study presented by the student in the Mechanical Engineering PhD programme, Ibrahim Kamal Siddiq, was a continuation of his obtaining a PhD in the programme, and was titled: "The Effect of Adding the Roughness Pattern on a Section of the Wing of NACA 4412 Aircraft and Its Effect on Aerodynamic Properties."
The study aimed to develop certain parts of the wing section of the aircraft with specific heights, to obtain the best aerodynamic properties in the standard flight mode of commercial aviation, and at several speeds and angles of air direction.
The doctoral dissertation examined several digital hypotheses through a programme that simulates real flight conditions, CFD programme Ansys Fluent and the process of verifying these hypotheses was also carried out through a special wind tunnel in the mechanical engineering laboratory at UoB.
The researcher designed 15 digital models, all of which were subjected to about 180 separate tests. He also designed four practical models, which were subjected to about 60 separate tests. In total, the experiments amounted to about 240 experiments.
The study concluded that adding the proposed base in certain parts of the wing section of the aircraft at a specific height improves the aerodynamic properties, and increases the rate of lifting force compared to the resistance force, which reduces the fuel consumed by about 12% while maintaining stable aerodynamic properties, thanks to the perfect interaction of the proposed model with the air currents affecting the wing section.
The thesis recommended the manufacture of a low-cost thin film with the pattern and thickness referred to in the study, and installing it in the wing section of the aircraft to improve the aerodynamic properties, and reduce fuel consumption and quantity, which contributes to reducing the weight of the aircraft at take-off.
Source: Bahrain News Agency