Experimental and Numerical Investigation on Aerodynamic Performance of Wind Turbine Blades with Dragonfly-Inspired Corrugated Microstructures

Abstract

The increasing demand for renewable energy necessitates continuous improvements in wind turbine efficiency, with surface drag on turbine blades representing a major source of energy loss. While biomimicry has offered promising solutions for drag reduction, existing research has not fully explored the potential of insect-inspired microstructures for large-scale wind turbine applications. This study investigates the aerodynamic effects of dragonfly-inspired corrugated microstructures applied to wind turbine blade surfaces. A biomimetic surface was fabricated on a NACA 0012 airfoil section using high-precision laser engraving technology. The aerodynamic performance was systematically evaluated through wind tunnel experiments at various wind speeds (5–25 m/s) and angles of attack (0°–12°), complemented by Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations to visualize flow patterns and validate experimental results. The corrugated microstructures demonstrated significant aerodynamic benefits, achieving a maximum drag coefficient reduction of 4.5% at a wind speed of 15 m/s and an angle of attack of 6°. Additionally, the lift-to-drag ratio improved by 8.2%, and the stall angle was delayed by 2°. Flow visualization revealed that the microstructures promote the formation of stable leading-edge vortices (LEVs) within the corrugation valleys, creating a slip-like boundary condition that reduces skin friction and delays flow separation. These findings suggest that dragonfly-inspired surface textures offer a promising passive flow control method for enhancing wind turbine aerodynamic efficiency, providing a novel design paradigm for next-generation blade manufacturing with potential applications in renewable energy engineering.