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Aerodynamic behaviour of prismatic bodies with sharp and rounded edges

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Abstract

The aerodynamic behaviour of prismatic bodies in a wide range of angles of attack is addressed in the present work. In particular, we focus on bodies with a basically rectangular shape, either sharp or cylindrical edges and different thicknesses. In general, the thinnest bodies exhibit the largest lift-to-drag ratio at moderate angles of attack, which is further enhanced with rounded edges. At larger angles of attack, bodies with rounded edges exhibit smaller drag than bodies with sharp edges. Roughness was found to enhance the lift-to-drag ratio significantly at small angles, and drag is reduced at larger angles.

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Abbreviations

A :

Cross-sectional area

b :

Span width

c D :

Drag coefficient

c D,r :

Recalculated drag coefficient applying a different reference area

c L :

Lift coefficient

c L,r :

Recalculated lift coefficient applying a different reference area

c M :

Pitching moment coefficient

D :

Drag area

F D :

Drag force

F L :

Lift force

H :

Height

L :

Lift area

l :

Reference length

M :

Pitching moment

q :

Dynamic pressure

Re :

Reynolds number

Re Cx :

Critical Reynolds numbers

T :

Thickness

t :

Time

v :

Velocity

W :

Width

α :

Angle of attack

β, γ, δ:

Angles characterising posture and position of ski jumpers

ρ :

Fluid density

Λ:

Aspect ratio

ν:

kinematic viscosity

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Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge support from the Austrian Research Funds (FWF, P14388-TEC), the International Olympic Commission (IOC) and the International Ski Federation (FIS).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Fluid Mechanics and Heat Transfer, Graz University of Technology, Inffeldgasse 25/F, 8010, Graz, Austria

    E. Reisenberger, W. Meile & G. Brenn

  2. Department of Medical Physics and Biophysics, Medical University of Graz, Harrachgasse 21/4, 8010, Graz, Austria

    W. Müller

Authors
  1. E. Reisenberger
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  2. W. Meile
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  3. G. Brenn
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  4. W. Müller
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Correspondence to W. Meile.

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Reisenberger, E., Meile, W., Brenn, G. et al. Aerodynamic behaviour of prismatic bodies with sharp and rounded edges. Exp Fluids 37, 547–558 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00348-004-0840-0

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