arXiv subjects

Anchal Sareen

Publications and source records attributed to Anchal Sareen.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Effect of Chordwise Flexibility Distribution on Wave-Assisted Flapping Foil Performance

This study investigates the influence of the spatial distribution of flexibility along a propulsor on thrust generation and propulsive efficiency in wave-assisted flapping foils. While flexibility is known to enhance propulsive performance, the role of its chordwise placement remains poorly understood. Here, the effective flexible length is systematically varied by shifting the flexure location along the tail while maintaining constant flexural rigidity and total chord length. Experiments are conducted in quiescent flow at heave frequencies of 0.8 Hz and 1.25 Hz, and non-dimensional heave amplitudes of h* = 0.13 and 0.22. Simultaneous measurements of hydrodynamic forces, flow fields, and tail kinematics are used to quantify performance and elucidate the underlying fluid-structure and fluid-particle interactions. The fully flexible configuration consistently achieves higher propulsive efficiency (up to approximately 164%) across all conditions, which is attributed to enhanced jet persistence and increased streamwise vortex spacing, indicative of a more coherent and sustained momentum jet. In contrast, the mid-flexible configuration yields substantially higher thrust (up to approximately 66%) at the largest heave frequency and amplitude, driven by a pronounced increase in near-wake jet velocity and momentum flux. These results demonstrate that the chordwise distribution of flexibility governs the trade-off between thrust and propulsive efficiency by modulating wake coherence and momentum transfer. The findings establish flexibility placement as a key design parameter in flapping propulsion and provide physics-based guidelines for enhancing the performance and endurance of wave-driven unmanned surface vehicles.

physics.flu-dyn↗

arXiv2026

Mechanisms of lift generation and drag invariance by asymmetric surface roughness on a sphere

The mechanisms governing transverse force generation on a sphere with asymmetric dimpled roughness are investigated using wall-resolved large eddy simulation at $Re=U_\infty d/\nu=100{,}000$ for $k/d=0.004$, $0.006$, and $0.008$. Previous experiments by Sudarsana et al. (2024) showed that asymmetric roughness can generate lift comparable to the peak Magnus force on a rotating sphere while leaving the mean drag nearly unchanged. The present simulations reproduce this behavior and reveal the coupled mechanisms responsible for lift generation and drag invariance. Pressure-force decomposition shows that asymmetric dimples redistribute the streamwise pressure contribution between the upstream and downstream hemispheres with little change in net drag, while producing a finite transverse pressure imbalance that generates lift. A Fourier decomposition further shows that pressure drag is governed primarily by the axisymmetric pressure component, whereas lift is governed by the non-axisymmetric component. The dimples also produce distinct transition pathways on the two hemispheres: the dimpled side undergoes near-wall transition before separation, delaying separation non-uniformly to $\phi_s\sim105^\circ - 125^\circ$, while the smooth side separates in a laminar state at $\phi_s\sim80^\circ$. The resulting pressure asymmetry drives sidewash from the smooth to the dimpled side, which rolls up into a counter-rotating streamwise vortex pair that amplifies wake deflection beyond that expected from separation-angle differences alone. These results show that lift generation arises from the coupled interaction of asymmetric transition, non-uniform separation, pressure-driven sidewash, and coherent wake reorganization.

physics.flu-dyn↗

arXiv2025

Wake Stabilization and Force Modulation via Surface Dimples on an Airfoil at Low-Reynolds-Numbers

This study investigates the effect of surface dimples on the unsteady aerodynamics of a National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics airfoil (NACA0012) at a chord-based Reynolds numbers of $Re_c = 5300$ and $10{,}000$ using direct numerical simulations. Dimples were placed on the suction side at non-dimensional chordwise locations of $l_D/c = 0.035$ and $0.35$, and the flow response was studied at a fixed angle of attack $\alpha = 5^\circ$. At $Re_c = 5300$, dimples placed at $l_D/c = 0.35$ reduced lift and drag fluctuations by $26.5\%$ and $33.3\%$, respectively, with minimal change in mean forces. At $Re_c = 10{,}000$, the same configuration led to a seven-fold increase in force fluctuations, while the mean remained unchanged. The smooth airfoil exhibited irregular, aperiodic force signals at this $Re_c$, whereas the dimpled case showed highly periodic behavior, indicating wake stabilization. Flow visualizations revealed that dimples generate streamwise vortices within the boundary layer. These vortices are found to have a stabilizing effect on wake dynamics at $Re_c = 5300$, reducing vortex breakdown and enhancing the coherence of wake structures. Spectral Proper Orthogonal Decomposition (SPOD) showed that dimples redistribute modal energy depending on Reynolds number: at low $Re_c$, they reduce broadband content and suppress unsteadiness, while at high $Re_c$, they amplify dominant shedding modes and broaden the spectral energy distribution. These results demonstrate that dimples can passively modulate unsteady forces and wake dynamics for a flow over a streamlined body, either suppressing or enhancing flow instabilities depending on the regime.

physics.flu-dyn↗

arXiv2024

Lift generation on a sphere through asymmetric roughness using active surface morphing

This study investigates a novel phenomenon of lift generation around a sphere by pneumatically manipulating its surface topology with an asymmetric roughness distribution. A comprehensive series of systematic experiments were conducted for Reynolds numbers ($Re = U_{\infty} d/\nu$, where $U_{\infty}$ is the fluid velocity, $d$ is the sphere diameter, and $\nu$ is the fluid kinematic viscosity) ranging from $6\times10^4$ to $1.3\times10^5$, and dimple depth ratios ($k/d$, where $k$ is the dimple depth) from $0$ to $1\times10^{-2}$ using a smart morphable sphere with one smooth and one dimpled side. The findings show that an asymmetrically rough sphere can generate lift forces up to 80\% of the drag, comparable to those produced by the Magnus Effect. The dimple depth ratio affects both the $Re$ at which lift generation begins and the maximum lift coefficient ($C_L$) achievable. The optimal $k/d$ for maximum lift varies with $Re$: deeper dimples are needed at low $Re$, while shallower dimples are more effective at high $Re$. For a fixed $Re$, increasing $k/d$ monotonically increases lift until a critical $k/d$ is reached, beyond which lift decreases. Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) revealed that dimples delay flow separation on the rough side while the smooth side remains unchanged, resulting in asymmetric boundary layer separation, leading to wake deflection and lift generation. Beyond the critical $k/d$, the flow separation location moved upstream, increasing the size of the rear wake, reducing wake deflection, and thus decreasing lift. Overall, this study establishes the foundation for wake control over bluff bodies and paves the way for real-time manoeuvring applications.

physics.flu-dyn↗

arXiv2024

Active flow control over a sphere using a smart morphable skin

Dimples on a sphere's surface can lead to significant drag reduction. However, the optimal dimple depth to minimize the drag varies with the Reynolds number ($Re$). In this study, a smart surface-morphing technique is devised that can adjust dimple depth based on the flow conditions to minimize drag across a wide range of $Re$ values. By depressurizing the core of a rigid skeleton enclosed with a thin latex membrane, the dimple depth can be precisely controlled in response to flow velocity changes. A comprehensive series of systematic experiments are performed for Reynolds number range of $6\times10^4 \leq Re \leq 1.3\times10^5$, and dimple depth ratios of $0 \leq k/d \leq 2\times10^{-2}$ using the morphable sphere. It is observed that the dimple depth ratio $k/d$ significantly affects both the onset of the drag crisis and the minimum achievable drag. As $k/d$ increases, the critical Reynolds number for the drag crisis decreases. However, the minimum achievable drag coefficient decreases as $k/d$ increases. By carefully adjusting the $k/d$ to $Re$ using the morphable approach, our experiments show that $C_D$ reductions up to 50 % can be achieved when compared to a smooth counterpart for all the $Re$ considered. For a constant $Re$, drag reduces as $k/d$ increases. However, there is a critical threshold beyond which drag amplification starts to occur. Particle image velocimetry (PIV) reveals a delay in flow separation on the sphere's surface with increasing $k/d$, causing the separation angle to shift downstream. However, when $k/d$ exceeds the critical threshold, flow separation moves upstream, causing an increase in drag. By using the experimental data, a control model is also developed relating optimum $k/d$ with $Re$ to minimize drag. This model also serves as the basis for adaptive drag control of the sphere for a wide range of Reynolds number.

physics.flu-dyn↗