Fluid Mechanics and Flight Mechanics

Aerodynamic numerical simulation of bionic full-wing typical solar-powered unmanned aerial vehicle

  • GAN Wenbiao ,
  • ZHOU Zhou ,
  • XU Xiaoping
Expand
  • 1. Research Institute of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China;
    2. School of Aeronautics, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China

Received date: 2014-10-29

  Revised date: 2015-02-02

  Online published: 2015-10-27

Supported by

Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (YWF-15-GJSYS-031); National Natural Science Foundation of China (11302178)

Abstract

Based on solar-powered unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) of high altitude, aerodynamic numerical simulation is carried out for a bionic full-wing typical solar-powered UAV. First, typical low Reynolds wing is calculated and verified by Reynolds-average Navier-Stokes numerical simulation method, which is based on modified laminar kinetic energy model. Second, design features of bionic full-wing typical solar-powered UAV are reviewed. Third, the basic aerodynamic performance of UAV is simulated by numerical simulation method. Finally, directional-lateral performance and rudder efficiency of UAV are calculated and analyzed to gain more comprehensive aerodynamic performance. The research shows that this bionic full-wing typical solar-powered UAV has complex low Reynolds flow features (laminar separation, transition, turbulence reattachment and so on), small flow interference for parts, high basic aerodynamic performance (cruise lift-drag-ratio is greater than 34, the longitudinal static stability is about 8%), static stable directional-lateral performance and great rudder efficiency, and the bionic full-wing type is a promising configuration.

Cite this article

GAN Wenbiao , ZHOU Zhou , XU Xiaoping . Aerodynamic numerical simulation of bionic full-wing typical solar-powered unmanned aerial vehicle[J]. ACTA AERONAUTICAET ASTRONAUTICA SINICA, 2015 , 36(10) : 3284 -3294 . DOI: 10.7527/S1000-6893.2015.0038

References

[1] Noth A. Design of solar-powered airplanes for continuous flight[D]. Zurich: Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, 2008.
[2] Gan W B. Research on aerodynamic numerical simulation and design of near space low-Reynolds unmanned aerial vehicles[D]. Xi'an: Northwestern Polytechnical University, 2014 (in Chinese). 甘文彪. 近空间低雷诺数无人机气动数值模拟及设计研究[D]. 西安: 西北工业大学, 2014.
[3] Muller T J, Delaurier J D. Aerodynamics of small vehicles[J]. Annual Review of Fluid Mechanies, 2003, 35: 89-110.
[4] Pines D J, Bohorquez F. Challenges facing future micro-air-vehicle development[J]. Journal of Aircraft, 2006, 42(2): 290-305.
[5] Michael S S, James J G, Andy P B, et al. Summary of low-speed airfoil data, Vol.2[M]. Virginia Beach, VA: SoarTech Publications, 1996: 1-277.
[6] Render P M. Airfoil measurements at low Reynolds numbers, COA Report.8508[R]. Cranfield: Cranfield University Press, 1985.
[7] Marchman J F. Aerodynamic testing at low Reynolds numbers[J]. Journal of Aircraft, 1987, 24(2): 107-114.
[8] Torres G E, Mueller T J. Low-aspect-ratio wing aerodynamics at low Reynolds numbers[J]. AIAA Journal, 2008, 42(5): 865-873.
[9] Chandar D D J, Damodaran M. Computational study of unsteady low-Reynolds-number airfoil aerodynamics using moving overlapping meshes[J]. AIAA Journal, 2008, 46(2): 429-438.
[10] Yang A M, Weng P F. Numerical analysis of low Reynolds number flows around thin wings for micro aerial vehicle[J]. Acta Aerodynamica Sinica, 2005, 23(1): 57-67 (in Chinese). 杨爱明, 翁培奋. 微型飞行器小展弦比机翼的低雷诺数气动力特性分析[J]. 空气动力学学报, 2005, 23(1): 57-67.
[11] Xiao T H. A numerical method for unsteady low Reynolds number flows and application to micro air vehicles[D]. Nanjing: Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 2009 (in Chinese). 肖天航. 低雷诺数非定常流场的数值方法及其在微型飞行器上的应用[D]. 南京: 南京航空航天大学, 2009.
[12] Genc S M, Vnver K, Hüseyin Y. Performance of transition model for predicting low Re aerofoil flows without/with single and simultaneous[J]. European Journal of Mechanics:B/Fluids, 2011, 30(2): 218-235.
[13] Youngblood J W, Talay T A. Solar-powered airplane design for long-endurance, high-altitude flight, AIAA-1982-0811[R]. Reston: AIAA, 1982.
[14] Steven A, Fred B, Gilliam T. Design analysis methodology for solar-powered aircraft[J]. Journal of Aircraft, 1995, 32(4): 703-709.
[15] Romeo G, Frulla G, Cestino E, et al. HELIPLAT: design, aerodynamic, structural analysis of long-endurance solar-powered stratospheric platform[J]. Journal of Aircraft, 2004, 41(6): 1505-1520.
[16] John F G. Multi-disciplinary design optimization of subsonic fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles projected through 2025[D]. Virginia: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 2004.
[17] Hajianmalek M. Conceptual design method for solar-powered aircrafts, AIAA-2011-165[R]. Reston: AIAA, 2011.
[18] Esmaeel E, Mehran T, Saman N. Aerodynamic performance of Parastoo UAV[J]. Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology: An International Journal, 2013, 85(2): 97-103.
[19] Walters D K, Leylek J H. Computational fluid dynamics study of wake-induced transition on a compressor-like flat plate[J]. Journal of Turbomachinery, 2005, 127(1): 52-63.
[20] Walters D K, Cokljat D. A three-equation eddy-viscosity model for Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes simulations of transitional flow[J]. Journal of Fluids Engineering, 2008, 130(1): 1-14.

Outlines

/