Adverse effect of rainfall on aerodynamic characteristics for different NACA airfoil configurations—A comprehensive review

The frenzied demand for the transit of humans and commodities in this modern world requires aircraft to operate in adverse weather conditions of rainfall, ice accretion, and gust. The paper also introduces innate characteristics of rainfall, ultimatum due to precipitation. The work gives a brief overview of adverse effect of rainfall on aerodynamic characteristics for various phases of flight in terms of evaluation of the aircraft performance flight characteristics such as C L , C D, L/D. It also portrays the significant phenomenon of boundary layer transition at lower AOA near leading edge and flow separation taking place nearby trailing edge at higher AOA. The study also showcases presence of uneven water film on wing surface due to droplet impingement, instabilities, interaction of water droplets with air flowing over the airfoil and splitting into rivulets which results in degradation of aerodynamic characteristics. The findings of this review paper could be of immense use to aviation industries in developing an aircraft that has better aerodynamic characteristics for all weather conditions.