Computational and experimental studies of aerodynamic characteristics of unmanned aerial vehicles at subsonic speeds

Аuthors

Shevchenko A. V.^*, Muravitskaia L. A.

Mlitary spaсe Aсademy named after A.F. Mozhaisky, Saint Petersburg, Russia

*e-mail: artnetru@yandex.ru

Abstract

The paper presents the features of aerodynamic characteristics studies by computational-experimental of typical unmanned aerial vehicles obtained as a result of numerical modeling and experimental studies conducted in a subsonic wind tunnel.
The computational and experimental study of the drones aerodynamic characteristics were carried out under the conditions V∞=20 m/s, T∞ = 293 K and p∞ = 101.3 kPa. The angle of attack of the models relative to the flow was varied from 0º to 20º.
The Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations closed by the k-ω SST turbulence equations were used in the calculations. Sticking and isothermal conditions were used on the body surface and walls of the working part of the pipe to ensure the adequacy of the simulation.
The modeling was carried out using a structured prismatic finite element mesh consisting of 9.1×106 elements (12 elements per boundary layer thickness (parameter y+=1.2)). The results of the calculations showed that the flow of the incoming flow near the models has a spatial character, and the shape of the model has a significant effect on the pressure distribution over the surface during its motion, hence on its drag force and lift force.
A subsonic wind tunnel T-2 was used for experimental aerodynamic characteristics studies. The unit is equipped with six-component aerodynamic scales 6KVT-2 with threaded model suspension. The technological advantage of the wind tunnel T-2 is the low degree of flow turbulence in the working part (0.2 %), which allows to conduct physical studies of the flow in the boundary layer and in the trace of the model. During the wind tunnel experiments, the drag force and lift force of the models were determined, from which the aerodynamic coefficients and aerodynamic characteristics of the models were obtained. Models without propeller were used in the experiments.
The analysis of the obtained results of calculations and experiments of aerodynamic characteristics of models shows that in general their type corresponds to the standard aerodynamic characteristics of aircraft of corresponding layouts.

Keywords:

unmanned aerial vehicle, aerodynamic characteristics, wind tunnel, experimental studies

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