Winglet Design to Reduce Drag Using Surface Dimples

This project focused on validating a research hypothesis that proposed a reduction in induced drag through the application of surface dimples on winglets. A series of CFD simulations were conducted to examine the aerodynamic effects of dimples at various positions on the airfoil surface.

Using ANSYS Fluent and SolidWorks, an airfoil was modeled and tested to assess how dimple placement influenced flow behavior and drag characteristics. The optimized dimpled airfoil was then integrated into a winglet design to evaluate its impact on overall drag reduction. The results confirmed the potential aerodynamic benefits of surface dimples in winglet applications.