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Computational Analysis of Bio-Inspired Transformations on Symmetrical Airfoils

A CFD Study of Fibonacci and Golden-Ratio–Modified NACA 0012 Airfoils

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DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31224/5862

Keywords:

Aerodynamics, Symmetrical Airfoils, Fibonacci Sequence, Golden Ratio, CFD, ANSYS

Abstract

This computational study delves into the potential of the Fibonacci Sequence and the Golden Ratio in enhancing the aerodynamic efficiency of symmetrical airfoils. The NACA 0012 airfoil—a well-known symmetrical profile—is used as the baseline for creating two novel airfoil geometries; one for each mathematical transformation. These transformations were scripted in Python and
ANSYS Workbench with SPEOS is used for performing 2D CFD simulations on the baseline and modified airfoils. The k − ω SST (Shear Stress Transport) turbulence model is used in ANSYS to achieve airflow simulation at a Reynolds number of 7.4 million. The lift-to-drag ratio values of these airfoils are calculated at angles of attack ranging from 0 to 15 degrees and compared to determine efficiency improvements. The results showed efficiency improvement of both modified airfoils at certain angles of attack.

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Author Biography

Dr. Victor Maldonado, Texas Tech University

Dr. Victor Maldonado is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Texas Tech University, where he directs the Flow Control and Aerodynamics Lab. He received his Ph.D. degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 2012, in the field of applied fluid mechanics and aerodynamics. Dr. Maldonado was a postdoctoral scholar at Texas Tech University in 2012 before joining the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Texas at San Antonio from 2013 to 2018. His research interests encompass applications in the area of Aerospace and Energy. In 2018 he was awarded the NSF CAREER Award for his work on blade tip vortex breakdown and flow control to improve power efficiency mitigate structural vibration. He was a faculty Summer Research Fellow at the NASA Glenn Research Center (2016) and the Naval Undersea Warfare Center (2022). Currently his is pursuing research on aerodynamics and structural mechanics of reconfigurable unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and improving the aerodynamic and aeroacoustic performance of electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft using a novel distributed ducted fan-wing ‘FanFoil' concept.  

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Posted

2025-11-24

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Copyright (c) 2025 Tejas Waghode, Dr. Victor Maldonado

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.