Computational Investigations for the Feasibility of Passive Flow Control Devices for Enhanced Aerodynamics of Small-Scale UAVs

IF 2.1 3区工程技术 Q2 ENGINEERING, AEROSPACE

Aerospace Pub Date : 2024-06-13 DOI:10.3390/aerospace11060473

Ali Arshad, Vadims Kovaļčuks

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

The 4R-UAV project aims to develop aerodynamically efficient and environmentally friendly UAVs based on the 4R Circular Economy principle. In this study, the feasibility of the application of PFCDs (Passive Flow Control Devices) was investigated for the small-scale low-speed 4R-UAV wing. The application of PFCDs for small-scale UAV wings is relatively unexplored. Two PFCD types, i.e., MVGs (Micro Vortex Generators) and winglets, were considered for the investigations. In the stepwise investigations, the aerodynamic performance of the MVGs and the winglets was analyzed for the short-span 4R-UAV wing, which was developed from the aerodynamically optimized airfoil SG6043mod. MVGs enhanced the wings near stall properties (especially maximum lift coefficient) and contributed to the delayed wing stall of up to 2°. MVGs manifested the main aerodynamic advantage, which was achieved at the higher angles of attack. Winglets, on the other hand, were found to be extremely effective in cruise conditions with improved pre-stall characteristics. Extensive investigations on winglets were carried out by designing six winglet configurations for the 4R-UAV wing. Blended-type winglets performed well and enhanced pre-stall properties by decreasing the drag (up to 10%) of the wing. The main performance improvement was found in the early angles of attack. In the final step, the combined effect of the integrated PFCDs was analyzed. The final wing (integrated MVGs and winglets) also exhibited enhanced performance with nearly 6% increased lift-to-drag ratio in cruise conditions. The limited aerodynamic advantage achieved from the PFCDs in small-scale UAV applications can be useful in specific (civil or military) missions. Further verifications are planned in the future by means of experimental and flight testing.

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用于增强小型无人飞行器空气动力学性能的无源流体控制装置可行性计算研究

4R-UAV 项目旨在根据 4R 循环经济原则开发空气动力学效率高且环保的无人机。本研究调查了 PFCD（被动流量控制装置）应用于小型低速 4R-UAV 机翼的可行性。PFCDs 在小型无人机机翼上的应用相对较少。研究考虑了两种类型的 PFCD，即 MVG（微涡流发生器）和小翼。在分步研究中，分析了 MVGs 和小翼对短跨度 4R-UAV 机翼的气动性能，该机翼由气动优化机翼 SG6043mod 发展而来。MVG 增强了机翼的近失速特性（尤其是最大升力系数），并使机翼失速延迟达 2°。MVGs体现了主要的气动优势，这是在较大攻角时实现的。另一方面，研究发现小翼在巡航条件下非常有效，具有更好的失速前特性。通过为 4R-UAV 机翼设计六种小翼配置，对小翼进行了广泛的研究。混合型小翼性能良好，通过降低机翼阻力（最多 10%）增强了预失速特性。主要的性能改进体现在早期攻角上。最后，分析了集成 PFCD 的综合效果。最终的机翼（集成了 MVG 和小翼）也表现出了更强的性能，在巡航条件下升阻比值提高了近 6%。在小型无人机应用中，PFCD 取得的有限气动优势可用于特定（民用或军用）任务。未来计划通过实验和飞行测试进行进一步验证。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Aerospace ENGINEERING, AEROSPACE-

CiteScore

3.40

自引率

23.10%

发文量

661

审稿时长

6 weeks

期刊介绍： Aerospace is a multidisciplinary science inviting submissions on, but not limited to, the following subject areas: aerodynamics computational fluid dynamics fluid-structure interaction flight mechanics plasmas research instrumentation test facilities environment material science structural analysis thermophysics and heat transfer thermal-structure interaction aeroacoustics optics electromagnetism and radar propulsion power generation and conversion fuels and propellants combustion multidisciplinary design optimization software engineering data analysis signal and image processing artificial intelligence aerospace vehicles'' operation, control and maintenance risk and reliability human factors human-automation interaction airline operations and management air traffic management airport design meteorology space exploration multi-physics interaction.