Numerical Analysis of Effect of Dimples on

Aerodynamics of an Airfoil
Thamodharan B , Shaik Mohamed Nagutha G,
Sacraties A , Devaki P
Bachelor of Aeronautical Engineering
Hindusthan Institute of Technology
Coimbatore,Tamilnadu,India - 641032.
thamodharan247@gmail.com

Moses Devaprasanna M
Associate Professor - Department of Aeronautical,
Hindusthan Institute of Technology
Coimbatore,Tamilnadu,India - 641032
moses_1981m@rediffmail.com

Abstract Airfoil is a shape that enhance the aerodynamics

and maneuverability of an aircraft . Our research is to carryout
numerical analysis using CFD to determine the effect of Dimples
on Aerodynamics of an airfoil. The wake region, increases the
pressure drag at higher angle of attack which is due to flow
separation. Due to this effect the aircraft can`t elevate above an
angle(i.e. stall angle) . Our objective is to increase the stall angle
by delaying the flow separation using dimples at various locations
on the suction surface of the airfoil.
KeywordsStall angle, airfoil, dimple, wake region

I.

INTRODUCTION

The basic forces acting in aircraft are Lift, Drag, Thrust &
Weight. Research are well in advance to improve thrust and
weight reduction. To enhance the effect of aerodynamic forces
(Lift & Drag) research has be made only to design new airfoil
profiles. Research to alter the geometry of existing airfoil are
less in observation. Incase of subsonic civil aircraft instead of
creating a own indigenous airfoil for every design, it would be
economical if they concentrate on altering existing design. The
effect of dimple will increase the angle of stall by delaying the
flow separation. Instead of selecting a basic NACA series
airfoil, we went a step ahead to choose a airfoil profile of
successful aircraft. Boeing 737-300 aircraft which comprises
of B737 midspan airfoil is a first classic variant among its
series. They had made 1988 successful deliveries. We are
eager to analyze our idea on such a successful profile.

Figure 2 - Flow over the golf ball with and without dimples

When the flow approaches a smooth ball, the flow get

detached and create a strong wake region at rear end of the
ball. The ball with dimple will cause a small turbulence over
the dimple which form a continuous detachment and
reattachment of flow, this effect pull the flow towards the
body thereby delaying the flow separation. Thus the wake
region is reduced and the pressure drag is reduced.
III.

STEPS USED IN CFD ANALYSIS

A. Pre-Processor
Preprocessing involves creation of geometry and mesh
around the body over which the flow takes place. The type of
boundaries of flow domain (Table 1) are also specified in
preprocessor. Creation of 2D model of flow domain, meshing
of flow domain and the specification of boundary conditions
are carried out using the preprocessor GAMBIT.

Figure 1 - 2-D Profile of B737 Midspan airfoil

II.

BACKGROUND

This idea was ignited in our mind on visualizing a Video

Published by USGA(United States of Golf Association). The
video explains about the science behind the golf ball. In olden
days players used smooth golf to play. As days passed, the
identified that old ,used, rough textured ball travel a longer
distance than a new smooth textured ball by gaining more lift.
This gave the idea to introduce dimple on golf ball.
Figure 3 - Flow domain with structured Grid

Table 1 - Boundary Types

EDGES

TYPE

Inlet

Velocity Inlet

Exit

Pressure Outlet

Airfoil

Wall

B. Solver
This step involves defining type of flow, turbulence model,
boundary conditions. We carried out these steps using
FLUENT.
Table 2 - Boundary conditions

Figure 4 - Comparison of grids with 0.5, 0.75, 1.0mm as first cell height

PARTICULARS

CONDITION

Inlet

20 m/s

Density

1.225 kg/m3

Viscosity

1.7894e-5 kg/ms

Temperature

288K

AOA

CL

CD

Reynolds Number

1369174

0.12613

0.01012

Turbulence Model

Spalart Allmaras

0.66589

0.013803

10

1.1611

0.02177

11

1.2465

0.025411

12

1.3247

0.028998

13

1.3869

0.033809

14

1.4136

0.041581

15

1.3073

0.062411

16

0.83054

0.17085

20

0.2929

0.12176

The x and y velocities are determined for individual

Angle of attack and the analysis had been carried out.

On choosing SA Turbulence model, enhanced wall

treatment (i.e. Y+ value > or = 30) condition has been
satisfied.

We carried out our analysis at such low velocity is to

enhance the take-off at shorter distance.
Table 3 - Conditions for Near wall cell

VARIABLES

VALUES

Y+

45

Delta y (first cell height)

0.75 mm

V.

RESULTS

The CL and CD values were tabulated for various AOA.

(28000 elements & first cell height : 0.75mm)
Table 4 - CL & CD Values for Various Angles of attack

C. Post Processor
The Contour (fig 5), Vector, XY plots (fig 6) were obtained
using FLUENT. The comparison graph were also obtained.
IV.

GRID INDEPENDENCY

Figure 5- Contour plot for 15deg AOA (i.e. stall angle)

To Prove that our solution doesn't fluctuate large with

various grids(i.e. grids with various number of elements) we
carried out grid independency check (fig 4). We created three
different types of mesh with varying first cell height (0.5,
0.75, 1 mm ) and compared the velocity profile along the line
( (0.30, 0.0755) (0.30, 0.1055) ).
The results doesn't fluctuate large, they seem to be
approximately equal. We proved that our result is independent
of the grid.
Figure 6 - Cp Plot -15deg AOA

To Prove that the result made by us were correct, we

compared our results with the data found in Website
(airfoiltools.com).

Both the graph seem to be approximately same. So we

prove that the result done by us is valid.

VI.

CONCLUSION

From the Cp plot (fig.6) for 15 degree angle of attack, the

flow over the upper surface of airfoil is found to separate
approximately at 55% of chord. It is proposed to extend the
numerical analysis to include the effect of dimple positions on
the upper surface over the occurrence of stall.
Figure 7 - CL & CD Plots for various AOA (Courtesy : airfoiltools.com)

VII.
[1]

[2]
Figure 8 - Predicted results of CL vs AOA
[3]

[4]

[5]

Figure 8 - Predicted results of CD vs AOA

[6]
[7]

REFERENCE

Deepanshu Srivastav, Flow Control Over Airfoils using Different

Shaped Dimples, 2012 International Conference on fluid Dynamics and
Thermodynamics Technologies (FDTT 2012), IPCSIT vol.33(2012),
IACSIT Press, Singapore.
Livya E, Anitha G, Valli P, Aerodynamic Analysis of Dimple Effect on
Aircraft Wing,World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology,
International Journal of Mechanical, Aerospace, Industrial,
Mechatronics and Manufacturing Engineering, Vol.9, No.2,2015.
Saarang S. Mahamuni, A Review on study of Aerodynamic
Characteristics of Dimple Effect on Wing, International Journal of
Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, Vol.2, No.4,July 2015.
Mohanasaravanan P S,Flow analysis around the dimple wing on
aircraft,International Journal of Engineering Research Online, A peer
Reviewed International Journal, Vol.3, No.2,2015.
Bhadri Rajasai, Ravi Tej, Sindhu Srinath, Aerodynamic effect of Dimple
on Aircraft Wings,Proc. of The Fourth Intl. Conf. On Advances in
Mechanical, Aeronautical and Prouction Techniques - MAPT 2015..
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