• International Journal of Aeronautical and Space Sciences
• /
• v.15 no.3
• /
• pp.219-231
• /
• 2014

We develop a preliminary design optimization procedure in this paper regarding the wing planform in a solar-powered high-altitude long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle. A high-aspect-ratio wing has been widely adopted in this type of a vehicle, due to both the high lift-to-drag ratio and lightweight design. In the preliminary design, its characteristics need to be addressed correctly, and analyzed in an appropriate manner. In this paper, we use the three-dimensional Euler equation to analyze the wing aerodynamics. We also use an advanced structural modeling approach based on a geometrically exact one-dimensional beam analysis. Regarding the structural integrity of the wing, we determine detailed configuration parameters, specifically the taper ratio and the span length. Next, we conduct a multi-objective optimization scheme based on the response surface method, using the present baseline configuration. We consider the structural integrity as one of the constraints. We reduce the wing weight by approximately 25.3 % from that in the baseline configuration, and also decrease the power required approximately 3.4 %. We confirm that the optimized wing has sufficient flutter margin and improved static longitudinal/directional stability characteristics, as compared to those of the baseline configuration.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
• /
• v.48 no.10
• /
• pp.809-819
• /
• 2020

In this study, the twist angle and wing planform shapes were selected as design variables and optimized to secure the stability of the flying-wing type UAV. Flying-wing aircraft has no separated fuselage and tails, which has advantages in aerodynamic characteristics and stealth performance, but it is difficult to secure the flight stability. In this paper, the sweep back angle and twist angle were optimized to obtain the lateral stability, the static margin and wing planform shapes were optimized to improve the longitudinal stability of the flying-wing, then effect of the twist angle was confirmed by comparing the stability of the shape with the winglet and the shape with the twist angle. In the optimization formulation, focusing on improving stability, constraints were established, objective functions and design variables were set, then design variable sensitivity analysis was performed using the Sobol method. AVL was used for aerodynamic analysis and stability analysis, and SQP was used for optimization. The CFD analysis of the optimized shape and the simulation of the dynamic stability proved that the twist angle can be applied to the improvement of the lateral stability as well as the stealth performance in the flying-wing instead of the winglet.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Military Science and Technology
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.130-143
• /
• 2007

Using steady state aerodynamic theories, it has been claimed that insects and birds cannot fly. To make matters worse, insects and birds fly at low Reynolds numbers. Therefore, a recurring theme in the literature is the importance of understanding unsteady aerodynamic effect and how the vortices behave when they separate from the moving surface that created them. In flapping flight, birds and insects can modify wing beat amplitude, stroke angle, wing planform area, angle of attack, and to a lesser extent flapping frequency to optimize the generation of lift force. Some birds are thought to employ two different gaits(a vortex ring gait and a continuous vortex gait) and unsteady aerodynamic effect(Clap and fling, Delayed stall, Wake capture and Rotational Circulation) in flapping flight. Leading edge vortices may produce an increase in lift. The trailing edge vortex could be an important component in gliding flight. Tip vortices in hovering support the body weight of the hummingbirds. Thus, this study investigated how insects and birds generate lift at low Reynolds numbers. This research is written to further that as yet incomplete understanding.

• Transactions of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering
• /
• v.12 no.11
• /
• pp.864-872
• /
• 2002

In this study, the effect of planform curvature on the stability of coupled flow/structure vibration is examined in transonic and supersonic flow regions. The aeroelastic analysis for the frequency and time domain is performed to obtain the flutter solution. The doublet lattice method(DLM) in subsonic flow is used to calculate unsteady aerodynamics in the frequency domain. For all speed range, the time domain nonlinear unsteady transonic small disturbance code has been incorporated into the coupled-time integration aeroelastic analysis (CTIA). Two curved wings with experimental data have been considered in this paper MSC/NASTRAN is used for natural free vibration analyses of wing models. Predicted flutter dynamic pressures and frequencies are compared with experimental data in subsonic and transonic flow regions.

• Advances in aircraft and spacecraft science
• /
• v.6 no.2
• /
• pp.117-144
• /
• 2019

High Altitude and Long Endurance (HALE) aircraft are capable of providing intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities over vast geographic areas when equipped with advanced sensor packages. As their use becomes more widespread, the demand for additional range, endurance and payload capability will increase and designers are exploring non-conventional configurations to meet the increasing demands. One such configuration is the joined-wing concept. A joined-wing aircraft is one that typically connects a front and aft wings in a diamond shaped planform. One such example is the Boeing SensorCraft configuration. While the joined-wing configuration offers potential benefits regarding aerodynamic efficiency, structural weight, and sensing capabilities, structural design requires careful consideration of elastic buckling resulting from the aft wing supporting, in compression, part of the forward wing structural loading. It has been shown already that this is a nonlinear phenomenon, involving geometric nonlinearities and follower forces that tend to flatten the entire configuration, leading to structural overload due to the loss of the aft wing's ability to support the forward wing load. Severe gusts are likely to be the critical design condition, with flight control system interaction in the form of Gust Load Alleviation (GLA) playing a key role in minimizing the structural loads. The University of Victoria Center for Aerospace Research (UVic-CfAR) has built a 3-meter span scaled and flexible wing UAV based on the Boeing SensorCraft design. The goal is to validate the nonlinear structural behavior in flight. The main objective of this research work is to perform Ground Vibration Tests (GVT) to characterize the dynamic properties of the scaled flight vehicle. Results from the experimental tests are used to characterize the modal dynamics of the aircraft, and to validate the numerical models. The GVT results are an important step towards a safe flight test program.

• 유체기계공업학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2006.08a
• /
• pp.217-220
• /
• 2006

The lift and drag forces produced by a wing of a given cross-sectional profile are dependent on the wing planform and the angle of attack. Aspect ratio is the ratio of the wing span to the average chord. For conventional fixed wing aircrafts, high aspect ratio wings produce a higher lift to drag ratio than low ones for flight at subsonic speeds. Therefore, high aspect ratio wings are used on aircraft intended for long endurance. However, birds and insects flap their wings to fly in the air and they can change their wing motions. Their wing motions are made up of translation and rotation. Therefore, we tested flapping motions with parameters which affect rotational motion such as the angle of attack and the wing beat frequency. The half elliptic shaped wings were designed with the variation of aspect ratio from 4 to 11. The flapping device was operated in the water to reduce the wing beat frequency according to Reynolds similarity. In this study, the aerodynamic forces, the time-averaged force coefficients and the lift to drag ratio were measured at Reynolds number 15,000 to explore the aerodynamic characteristics with the variation of aspect ratio. The maximum lift coefficient was turned up at AR=8. The mean drag coefficients were almost same values at angle of attack from $10^{\circ}$ to $40^{\circ}$ regardless of aspect ratio, and the mean drag coefficients above angle of attack $50^{\circ}$ were decreased according to the increase of aspect ratio. For flapping motion the maximum mean lift to drag ratio appeared at AR=8.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers Conference
• /
• 2008.03a
• /
• pp.638-642
• /
• 2008

Computational methods based on the solution of the flow model are widely used for the analysis of lowspeed, inviscid, attached-flow problems. Most of such methods are based on the implementation of the internal Dirichlet boundary condition. In this paper, the time-domain panel method uses the piecewise constant source and doublet singularities. The present method utilizes the time-stepping loop to simulate the unsteady motion of the rotary wing blade. The wake geometry is calculated as part of the solution with no special treatment. To validate the results of aerodynamic characteristics, the typical blade was chosen such as, Caradonna-Tung blade and present results were compared with the experimental data and the other numerical results in the single blade condition and two blade condition. This isolated rotor blade model consisted of a two bladed rotor with untwisted, rectangular planform blade. Computed flow-field solutions were presented for various section of the blade in the hovering mode.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
• /
• v.40 no.8
• /
• pp.662-669
• /
• 2012

The effect of aspect ratio (AR) on the aerodynamic characteristics of a flapping wing was examined to analyze the design parameters of an insect-based MAV. The experimental model constructed with 4-bar linkages was operated in a water tank with the condition of a low Reynolds number. A water-proof micro-force load cell was fabricated and installed at the root of the wing which is made of a plexiglas. The wing shapes were based on the planform of a fruit fly wing. The ARs selected were 1.87, 3.74 and 7.48 and the Reynolds number was fixed at $10^4$. For AR=1.87 and 3.74, distinct lift peaks which indicate unsteady effects such as 'wake-capture' were observed at the moment of the start of the wing-stroke. However, for AR=7.48, no unsteady effects were observed. These phenomena were also observed in the delayed rotation case. The results indicate that a larger AR provides better aerodynamic performance for the insect-based flapping wing which can be applied in MAV designs.

• International Journal of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering
• /
• v.7 no.6
• /
• pp.995-1006
• /
• 2015

Underwater glider, as a new kind of autonomous underwater vehicles, has many merits such as long-range, extended-duration and low costs. The shape of underwater glider is an important factor in determining the hydrodynamic efficiency. In this paper, a high lift to drag ratio configuration, the Blended-Wing-Body (BWB), is used to design a small civilian under water glider. In the parametric geometric model of the BWB underwater glider, the planform is defined with Bezier curve and linear line, and the section is defined with symmetrical airfoil NACA 0012. Computational investigations are carried out to study the hydrodynamic performance of the glider using the commercial Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) code Fluent. The Kriging-based genetic algorithm, called Efficient Global Optimization (EGO), is applied to hydrodynamic design optimization. The result demonstrates that the BWB underwater glider has excellent hydrodynamic performance, and the lift to drag ratio of initial design is increased by 7% in the EGO process.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
• /
• v.31 no.9
• /
• pp.1-8
• /
• 2003

Velocity data were acquired at a series of stations in the chordwise direction above a delta wing with leading edge extension, using a triple axis hot film anemometry. Surveys normal to planform yield velocity field data at incidence angle of 24$^{\circ}$and 32$^{\circ}$at a centerline chord Reynolds number of $1.76{\times}10^6$. Experimental results of velocity measurements of mean velocity of three components gave a confidence to quantitative investigate the vortical flow field over a LEX-delta wing with this probe. The present experiments indicated the existence of both wing and LEX vortex where the local mean axial velocity is maximum. It also shown the development of secondary vortex of opposite sign of rotating above the wing surface near the leading edge. The insertion of probe across the flow field was found to have little influence on the position of the vortex core.