Modeling novel methodologies for unmanned aerial systems–Applications to the UAS-S4 Ehecatl and the UAS-S45 Bálaam

The rising demand for Unmanned Aerial Systems(UASs) to perform tasks in hostile environments has emphasized the need for their simulation models for the preliminary evaluations of their missions. The efficiency of the UAS model is directly related to its capacity to estimate its flight dynamics with minimum computational resources. The literature describes several techniques to estimate accurate aircraft flight dynamics. Most of them are based on system identification. This paper presents an alternative methodology to obtain complete model of the S4 and S45 unmanned aerial systems. The UAS-S4 and the UAS-S45 models were divided into four sub-models, each corresponding to a specific discipline: aerodynamics, propulsion, mass and inertia, and actuator. The‘‘aerodynamic" sub-model was built using the Fderivatives in-house code, which is an improvement of the classical DATCOM procedure. The ‘‘propulsion" sub-model was obtained by coupling a two-stroke engine model based on the ideal Otto cycle and a Blade Element Theory(BET) analysis of the propeller. The ‘‘mass and the inertia" sub-model was designed utilizing the Raymer and DATCOM methodologies. A sub-model of an actuator using servomotor characteristics was employed to complete the model. The total model was then checked by validation of each submodel with numerical and experimental data. The results indicate that the obtained model was accurate and could be used to design a flight simulator.     

Transonic buffet control research with two types of shock control bump based on RAE2822 airfoil

Current research shows that the traditional shock control bump (SCB) can weaken the intensity of shock and better the transonic buffet performance.The author finds that when SCB is placed downstream of the shock,it can decrease the adverse pressure gradient.This may prevent the shock foot separation bubble to merge with the trailing edge separation and finally improve the buffet performance.Based on RAE2822 airfoil,two types of SCB are designed according to the two different mechanisms.By using Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) and unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (URANS) methods to analyze the properties of RAE2822 airfoil with and without SCB,the results show that the downstream SCB can better the buffet performance under a wide range of freestream Mach number and the steady aerodynamics characteristic is similar to that of RAE2822 airfoil.The traditional SCB can only weaken the intensity of the shock under the design condition.Under the off-design conditions,the SCB does not do much to or even worsen the buffet performance.Indeed,the use of backward bump can flatten the leeward side of the airfoil,and this is similar to the mechanism that supercritical airfoil can weaken the recompression of shock wave.     

Dynamic modeling and analysis of vortex filament motion using a novel curve-fitting method

Applications of a novel curve-fitting technique are presented to efficiently predict the motion of the vortex filament, which is trailed from a rigid body such as wings and rotors. The governing equations of the motion, when a Lagrangian approach with the present curve-fitting method is applied, can be transformed into an easily solvable form of the system of nonlinear ordinary differential equations. The applicability of Be′zier curves, B-spline, and Lagrange interpolating polynomials is investigated. Local Lagrange interpolating polynomials with a shift operator are proposed as the best selection for applications, since it provides superior system characteristics with minimum computing time, compared to other methods. In addition, the Gauss quadrature formula with local refinement strategy has been developed for an accurate prediction of the induced velocity computed with the line integration of the Biot–Savart law. Rotary-wing problems including a vortex ring problem are analyzed to show the efficiency, accuracy, and flexibility in the applications of the proposed method.     

Sensitivity analysis of flowfield modeling parameters upon the flow structure and aerodynamics of an opposing jet over a hypersonic blunt body

Implementation of an opposing jet in design of a hypersonic blunt body significantly modifies the external flowfield and yields a considerable reduction in the aerodynamic drag. This study aims to investigate the effects of flowfield modeling parameters of injection and freestream on the flow structure and aerodynamics of a blunt body with an opposing jet in hypersonic flow. Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations with a Shear Stress Transport (SST) turbulence model are employed to simulate the intricate jet flow interaction. Through utilizing a Non-Intrusive Polynomial Chaos (NIPC) method to construct surrogates, a functional relation is established between input modeling parameters and output flowfield and aerodynamic quantities in concern. Sobol indices in sensitivity analysis are introduced to represent the relative contribution of each parameter. It is found that variations in modeling parameters produce large variations in the flow structure and aerodynamics. The jet-to-freestream total-pressure ratio, jet Mach number, and freestream Mach number are the major contributors to variation in surface pressure, demonstrating an evident location-dependent behavior. The penetration length of injection, reattachment angle of the shear layer, and aerodynamic drag are also most sensitive to the three crucial parameters above. In comparison, the contributions of freestream temperature, freestream density, and jet total temperature are nearly negligible.     

同伦法在现代飞机尾旋预测中的应用

在利用ＢＡＣＴＭ法对高性动性能飞机尾旋预测中，首先要求解平衡解，为此需要使用静态，强迫振荡天平气动模型和旋转天平气动模型，而在两气动模型转换过程中，常常遇到难找或不断得到平衡解的问题，针对这一问题，利用同伦法对气动模型进行处理，有效地了解决了该问题，同时，结合某战斗机进行了有关尾旋的计算和预测，结果表明，所提出的方法是可靠和切实可行的。     

Computational engineering analysis of external geometrical modifications on MQ-1 unmanned combat aerial vehicle

This paper focuses on the effects of external geometrical modifications on the aerodynamic characteristics of the MQ-1 predator Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV) using computational fluid dynamics. The investigations are performed for 16 flight conditions at an altitude of 7.6 km and at a constant speed of 56.32 m/s. Two models are analysed, namely the baseline model and the model with external geometrical modifications installed on it. Both the models are investigated for various angles of attack from −4° to 16°, angles of bank from 0° to 6° and angles of yaw from 0° to 4°. Due to the unavailability of any experimental (wind tunnel or flight test) data for this UCAV in the literature, a thorough verification of calculations process is presented to demonstrate confidence level in the numerical simulations. The analysis quantifies the loss of lift and increase in drag for the modified version of the MQ-1 predator UCAV along with the identification of stall conditions. Local improvement (in drag) of up to 96% has been obtained by relocating external modifications, whereas global drag force reduction of roughly 0.5% is observed. The effects of external geometrical modifications on the control surfaces indicate the blanking phenomenon and reduction in forces on the control surfaces that can reduce the aerodynamic performance of the UCAV.     

稀薄流航天器鼻锥迎风凹腔气动力和气动热性能研究

本文采用直接模拟蒙特卡罗(DSMC)方法,对高超声速稀薄流中航天器鼻锥迎风凹腔气动力与气动热性能进行了数值研究。得到了鼻锥外壁面、凹腔侧壁面以及凹腔底面的热流密度分布,分析了不同凹腔深宽比对鼻锥冷却效率以及凹腔腔体内气体参数的影响;以深宽比为1的凹腔为基准,研究了凹腔唇口钝化半径对航天器气动热与气动力的影响。数值结果表明,高超声速稀薄流中迎风凹腔能够降低鼻锥外壁面的热流密度;当凹腔深宽比达到1之后,凹腔侧壁面热流变化趋于一致,热流密度最低点的轴向位置不随深宽比改变,且凹腔底部热流很小;凹腔近底部气体均由稀薄流转化为连续流,腔内气体压力不断振荡;唇口钝化没有明显优势,虽然可以降低鼻锥峰值热流,但是会带来严重的气动力性能下降。     

Full blended blade and endwall design of a compressor cascade

In the current state-of-the-art, high-loss flow in the endwall significantly influences compressor performance. Therefore, the control of endwall corner separation in compressor blade rows is important to consider. Based on the previous research of the Blended Blade and EndWall (BBEW) technique, which can significantly reduce corner separation, in combination with a non-axisymmetric endwall, the full-BBEW technique is proposed in this study to further reduce the separation in endwall region. The principle of the unchanged axial passage area is considered to derive the geometric method for this technique. Three models are further classified based on different geometric characteristics of this technique: the BBEW model, Inclining-Only EndWall (IOEW) model, and full-BBEW model. The most effective design of each model is then found by performing several optimizations at the design point and related numerical investigations over the entire operational conditions. Compared with the prototype, the total pressure loss coefficient decreases by 7%–9% in the optimized full-BBEW at the design point. Moreover, the aerodynamic blockage coefficient over the entire operational range decreases more than the other models, which shows its positive effect for diffusion. This approach has a larger decrease at negative incidence angles where the intersection of the boundary layer plays an important role in corner separation. The analysis shows that the blended blade profile enlarges the dihedral angle and creates a span-wise pressure gradient to move low momentum fluid towards the mainstream. Furthermore, the inclining hub geometry accelerates the accumulated flow in the corner downstream by increasing the pressure gradient. Overall, though losses in the mainstream grow, especially for large incidences, the full-BBEW technique effectively reduces the separation in corners.     

高超声速栅格翼气动特性研究

阐述了用于马赫数大于5.0的高超声速飞行控制的栅格翼气动特性问题。采用工程 计算方法预示了栅格翼气动力、热特性,验证了栅格翼几何参数特性合理选取的初步要求, 这为后续深入研究进行了有益的探索。