Lattice Boltzmann simulation of gas flow over micro-scale airfoils

In order to understand aerodynamic issues related to design and performance of micro air aircraft, in this paper isothermal low Reynolds number flows over micro-scale airfoils are simulated using the kinetic lattice Boltzmann method [Niu et al., Phys. Rev. E 76 (2007) 036711 ]. The sample of the micro-scale airfoil investigated is a flat plate with a 5% thickness ratio. Investigation shows that low Reynolds number flows over the micro-scale airfoils are viscous and compressible, and that rarefied effects in these kinds of flows are dominant. It is also found that the lift coefficients of the micro-scale plate airfoils are always smaller than the drag coefficients of them at Reynolds numbers less than 100, and this observation is consistent with the previous studies.