A computation study on the aerodynamic influence of interaction wing-propeller for a tilt-body MAV
Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology
ISSN: 0002-2667
Article publication date: 5 October 2015
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the influence of a propeller slipstream on the aerodynamic characteristics of a fixed-wing micro air vehicle (MAV) by simplifying a propeller to an actuator disk and an actuator volume.
Design/methodology/approach
A computational fluid dynamic (CFD) approach.
Findings
The simulation flows are found and show that the propeller slipstream changes the flow field around the wing, which improves the aerodynamic performance of the wing. The aerodynamic performance is improved first, when the separation of the boundary flow at the upper surface wing is delayed. Second, the flow region of the boundary layer is boosted close to the wing surface again at a high incidence angle. And finally, the velocity inlet of the wing is increased by the propeller-induced flow.
Research limitations/implications
The incidence angle is in the range of 0-80°with an increment of 20°. The free stream velocity and RPM used are 6 m/s and 5,000 rpm, respectively.
Originality/value
A propeller is simplified to an actuator disk and an actuator volume.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This research has been funded through a research contract of the Graduate School of Kasetsart University, Thailand and ISAE, France. The authors appreciate the Graduate School of Kasetsart University which supported the budget for this research. The authors would like to thank Giles Grondin and Nicolas Doué, who gave considerable recommendations and suggestions regarding CFD for this work to be completed. Finally, the authors would like to thank my American teachers who are Marilyn and Jim Black, who helped to correct the English in this paper.
Citation
Chinwicharnam, K., Gomez Ariza, E.D., Moschetta, J.-M. and Thipyopas, C. (2015), "A computation study on the aerodynamic influence of interaction wing-propeller for a tilt-body MAV", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 87 No. 6, pp. 521-529. https://doi.org/10.1108/AEAT-06-2014-0087
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2015, Emerald Group Publishing Limited