Design of precision balance and aerodynamic characteristic measurement system for micro aerial vehicles

This paper presents the design and validation of a measurement system for the aerodynamic characteristics of micro aerial vehicles. Micro aerial vehicles are very small, have a wingspan of about 100–150 mm, and operate at relatively low Reynolds numbers. A precision aerodynamic balance was designed in order to measure the lift, drag, rolling-moment, and pitching-moment of micro air vehicles, as these parameters are too small to be determined by general-purpose aerodynamic measurement systems. During the design process, the aerodynamic balance was analyzed with the finite-element method in order to produce an optimal design and was calibrated as well. The calibration results and the finite element analysis results were compared and found to be in good agreement and the final design was determined to be acceptable. In addition, a computer-based data acquisition system has been developed to acquire measurement data from the aerodynamic balance. Wind tunnel tests of a 2D airfoil were performed to validate the aerodynamic measurement system. Results of the wind tunnel tests were compared with references and found to be in good agreement. Finally, we measured aerodynamic characteristics of MAV wing model used in Batwing with the developed aerodynamic measurement system.     

Flapping and flexible wings for biological and micro air vehicles

Micro air vehicles (MAVs) with wing spans of 15 cm or less, and flight speed of 30–60 kph are of interest for military and civilian applications. There are two prominent features of MAV flight: (i) low Reynolds number (10⁴–10⁵), resulting in unfavorable aerodynamic conditions to support controlled flight, and (ii) small physical dimensions, resulting in certain favorable scaling characteristics including structural strength, reduced stall speed, and low inertia. Based on observations of biological flight vehicles, it appears that wing motion and flexible airfoils are two key attributes for flight at low Reynolds number. The small size of MAVs corresponds in nature to small birds, which do not glide like large birds, but instead flap with considerable change of wing shape during a single flapping cycle. With flapping and flexible wings, birds overcome the deteriorating aerodynamic performance under steady flow conditions by employing unsteady mechanisms. In this article, we review both biological and aeronautical literatures to present salient features relevant to MAVs. We first summarize scaling laws of biological and micro air vehicles involving wing span, wing loading, vehicle mass, cruising speed, flapping frequency, and power. Next we discuss kinematics of flapping wings and aerodynamic models for analyzing lift, drag and power. Then we present issues related to low Reynolds number flows and airfoil shape selection. Recent work on flexible structures capable of adjusting the airfoil shape in response to freestream variations is also discussed.     

一种电动飞机概念方案的参数设计方法

为了准确地进行电动飞机概念方案的设计评估,从其自身特征出发,结合任务需求和不同飞行阶段的能耗分析,建立了全机总质量评估模块;为了完成方程的封闭和满足必要的飞行性能约束,建立了参数矩阵图模块;搭建的设计系统可以有效评估起飞总质量、翼载荷、功率载荷和翼展等总体参数。基于该系统,对国内外三款电动飞机进行设计和对比分析:不同机型下,程序所得的各项质量、翼面积、展长和翼载荷等均与实际数据相近;各项数据对比的绝对数值差异反映出对于任务的模拟和能耗在合理范围之内,且其相对误差对于初级设计阶段的总体参数评估而言,也是可以接受的。这些研究结果不仅验证了本文设计方法的正确性和可行性,还表明了该方法可为电动飞机初步的参数选定和性能评估提供重要的设计支撑。      

基于Isight的倾转旋翼飞行器前飞状态翼型优化

倾转旋翼飞行器被认为是下一代旋翼类飞行器的主要发展方向,研究其机翼的气动优化设计,对于提高该类飞行器的飞行性能具有重要意义。以NACA2412为原始翼型,首先,采用Hicks-Henne方法进行翼型参数化,并确定设计变量;其次,采用Isight集成翼型生成、网格划分、流场求解等软件,建立翼型自动优化平台;然后,采用基于最优拉丁超立方设计(Opt LHD)和径向基函数(RBF)的代理模型,并用多岛遗传算法(MIGA)进行机翼优化;最后,将优化后的翼型生成三维机翼,进行气动特性计算。优化过程中,对比两种边界条件的优化结果,以证明所用优化方法的有效性;为了减少计算量,使用动量源方法用作用盘代替旋翼。结果表明:根据机翼展向来流速度分布进行翼型优化,在前飞状态下优化后的机翼的升阻比提高了66.03%。     

Effect of flexibility on unsteady aerodynamics forces of a purely plunging airfoil

Introducing flexibility into the design of a vertically flapping wing is an effective way to enhance its aerodynamic performance. As less previous studies on the aerodynamics of vertically flapping flexible wings focused on the lift generated in a wide range of angle of attack·a 2D numerical simulation of a purely plunging flexible airfoil is employed using a loose fluid–structure interaction method. The aerodynamics of a fully flexible airfoil are firstly studied with the flexibility and angle of attack. To verify whether an airfoil could get aerodynamic benefit from the change in structure, partially flexible airfoil with rigid leading edge and flexible trailing edge were further considered. Results show that flexibility could always reduce airfoil drag while lift and lift efficiency both peak at moderate flexibility. When freestream velocity is constant, lift is maximized at a high angle of attack about 40° while this optimal angle of attack reduces to 15° in drag-balanced status. The airfoil drag reduction, lift augmentation as well as efficiency enhancement mainly attribute to the passive pitching other than the camber deformation. Partially deformed airfoil with the longest length of moderate flexible trailing edge can achieve the highest lift. This study may provide some guidance in the wing design of Micro Air Vehicle (MAV).     

微型扑翼飞行器的气动建模分析与试验

用计算流体力学的数值模拟方法研究了微扑翼飞行器的扑翼飞行的非定常空气动力学问题。在对昆虫扑翼飞行运动的仿生模拟基础上 ,对实际可飞的微扑翼飞行器的扑翼运动建立了三维翼型的运动学与空气动力学模型。利用任意拉格朗日欧拉 ( ALE)有限元方法求解出 N-S方程的数值解 ,证明简单扑翼布局所提供的升力足以克服微扑翼飞行器本身的重力使其飞行。在此基础上 ,分别计算并分析了拍动幅值、俯仰幅度以及扑翼频率等各种扑翼参数对升力的影响。最后 ,探索性的扑翼风洞试验与飞行试验结果在一定程度上验证了文中计算方法的可行性      

MAV放宽静稳定性设计的效益/代价分析

介绍了一种固定翼微型飞行器，通过对不同静稳定性设计的升阻特性、力矩特性、配平损失等进行计算分析，确定了在该类微型飞行器上应用放宽静稳定性技术的代价和效益，分析了不同操纵面布局的影响，并给出了微型飞行器在操纵面布局和控制增稳应用方面的一般计算方法和建议。     

微型扑翼飞行器风洞试验初步研究

 为了对微型扑翼飞行器空气动力学基本特性进行定量研究,利用西北工业大学微型飞行器专用风洞对微型扑翼飞行器机翼进行初步风洞吹风试验。试验中进行了扑动频率、风速、迎角、机翼平面形状、翼型弯度对机翼气动特性影响的研究。通过试验得出了微型扑翼飞行器升力、推力产生的基本规律,为微型扑翼飞行器总体设计和气动设计提供了参考。     

大型民机翼型变弯度气动特性分析与优化设计

为了提高飞机巡航过程中升力系数、马赫数变化后的气动效率,大型民用运输机开始采用机翼变弯度技术。以典型远程宽体客机翼型为例,研究了翼型后缘变弯度对气动性能与压力分布的影响。利用代理模型建立了不同巡航设计工况下,翼型后缘弯度与气动性能的关系。以此为基础,提出了基于代理模型的大型民机翼型变弯度设计优化方法。算例研究表明,在给定巡航升力系数与马赫数下,该方法可以预测出翼型的最佳弯度,从而改善非设计点气动性能。该方法对大型民机机翼变弯度构型设计工作有一定的工程意义。     

大型水陆两栖飞机翼型优化设计

对大型水陆两栖飞机翼型进行了数值优化设计研究,通过以翼型设计升力系数下的阻力系数最小化为设计目标和以翼型低头力矩、最大升力系数、失速后升力系数下降率作为约束条件的大型水陆两栖飞机翼型优化设计,在满足翼型相对厚度、最大厚度位置、最大弯度、最大弯度位置符合相应设计范围的情况下,得到了综合性能较基本翼型提高的新翼型.该设计方法适用于大型水陆两栖飞机的翼型设计,是一种符合工程应用实际的数值优化设计方法.      

低雷诺数仿生分离流翼型气动特性初探

为了探索适合低雷诺数微型飞行器的翼型形式,基于对自然界鸟类和昆虫滑翔飞行时翅膀形状的观察,设计出一种由前缘削尖平板和后缘圆弧翼型组合而成的仿生分离流翼型。数值研究结果表明,气流在削尖平板的前缘点强制分离,形成大范围低压分离流动,随后在后部圆弧翼上表面再附形成稳定低压涡流区,从而实现较高的气动效率和较强的抵抗大气湍流的能力。上削尖平板可以使流动分离点固定在削尖点。相对于单独平板,仿生分离流翼型的升力系数有大幅提高,迎角为4°时提高了112%。此外,仿生分离流翼型可以在较宽的迎角范围内（4°~20°）保持高升力,但是迎角增加,阻力也快速增大,因此小迎角情况下（小于4°）气动效率更优。      

柔性翼微型飞行器气动特性的实验研究

 柔性翼有望提高微型飞行器(MAV)的抗风能力。为进一步了解柔性翼的气动性能,建立MAV数学模型,并为飞行仿真和飞行控制设计做准备,在低雷诺数风洞中对柔性翼微型飞行器进行了风洞试验,同时采用翼型、机翼平面形状和尺寸大小均相同的刚性翼进行了风洞对比试验。对比结果表明：柔性翼相比于对应的刚性翼,失速迎角较大;柔性翼的最大升力系数较大,但是柔性翼的变形在提高升力的同时也增大了阻力,升阻比的情况较为复杂;在较低雷诺数情况下,柔性翼的纵向静稳定性略优于刚性翼;柔性翼的长周期和短周期模态的衰减特性和阻尼特性略优于刚性翼。     

翼型加装格尼襟翼的低雷诺数气动特性实验研究

为了研究低雷诺数下格尼襟翼对翼型气动特性的影响,通过风洞试验研究了Eppler387翼型加装0.5%～5.0%弦长高度格尼襟翼后的气动特性变化,试验雷诺数1.49×105～2.31×105。试验结果表明：低雷诺数下Eppler387翼型加装格尼襟翼后,升力系数和力矩系数明显增大,襟翼高度大于2%弦长时阻力系数显著增大。格尼襟翼在高升力系数下能够起到增大升阻比的作用,适用于微小型飞行器工作在大载荷状态,而0.5%弦长高度的襟翼还能够兼顾中小升力系数下的气动效率,同样适合于微小型飞行器在巡航状态使用。与原翼型相比,加装襟翼后最大升阻比对应的迎角提前,随襟翼高度的增加,翼型升阻比曲线峰值变得不再突出。     

Unsteady aerodynamics and flow control for flapping wing flyers

The creation of micro air vehicles (MAVs) of the same general sizes and weight as natural fliers has spawned renewed interest in flapping wing flight. With a wingspan of approximately 15 cm and a flight speed of a few meters per second, MAVs experience the same low Reynolds number (10⁴–10⁵) flight conditions as their biological counterparts. In this flow regime, rigid fixed wings drop dramatically in aerodynamic performance while flexible flapping wings gain efficacy and are the preferred propulsion method for small natural fliers. Researchers have long realized that steady-state aerodynamics does not properly capture the physical phenomena or forces present in flapping flight at this scale. Hence, unsteady flow mechanisms must dominate this regime. Furthermore, due to the low flight speeds, any disturbance such as gusts or wind will dramatically change the aerodynamic conditions around the MAV. In response, a suitable feedback control system and actuation technology must be developed so that the wing can maintain its aerodynamic efficiency in this extremely dynamic situation; one where the unsteady separated flow field and wing structure are tightly coupled and interact nonlinearly. For instance, birds and bats control their flexible wings with muscle tissue to successfully deal with rapid changes in the flow environment. Drawing from their example, perhaps MAVs can use lightweight actuators in conjunction with adaptive feedback control to shape the wing and achieve active flow control. This article first reviews the scaling laws and unsteady flow regime constraining both biological and man-made fliers. Then a summary of vortex dominated unsteady aerodynamics follows. Next, aeroelastic coupling and its effect on lift and thrust are discussed. Afterwards, flow control strategies found in nature and devised by man to deal with separated flows are examined. Recent work is also presented in using microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) actuators and angular speed variation to achieve active flow control for MAVs. Finally, an explanation for aerodynamic gains seen in flexible versus rigid membrane wings, derived from an unsteady three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics model with an integrated distributed control algorithm, is presented.     

大展弦比机翼气动外形设计方案研究

根据传统机翼气动外形设计的方案,结合CAD与CFD软件,本文提出了一套机翼气动外形设计流程,包括翼型选择、机翼平面参数确定、建立三维机翼外形模型、流场网格划分和典型飞行条件下的气动计算等多个部分。依据该流程,完成了一个满足设计指标的无人机大展弦比机翼外形的设计,充分说明了该机翼气动外形设计流程的技术可行性。     

伸缩翼气动特性估算方法研究

针对传统方法不能够估算沿展长方向翼型弦长不断连续变化的伸缩翼气动特性的问题,提出了一种基于升力面理论和改进涡格法的气动估算方法。首先给出了该气动估算方法的原理,在此基础上推算出了气动估算方法的步骤和计算公式,最后进行数据处理,给出了伸缩翼展开过程中升力系数的变化曲线,并与AN-SYS CFD的计算结果进行了对比。结果表明,该气动估算方法能够很好地估算伸缩翼展开过程中的升力系数变化特性,对伸缩翼机翼外形设计能够提供有效的依据。     

新型倾转旋翼机气动弹性稳定性分析模型

针对新型半铰接式、摆振柔软的倾转旋翼机,建立了旋翼/动力舱/机翼气动弹性稳定性分析模型,并导出了系统的动力学方程。分析模型采用了当量铰、弹性约束的刚性桨叶和弹性机翼假设,采用Pitt-Peters动力入流模型计入了非定常气动力的影响。所建模型为进行新型倾转旋翼机大速度飞行时气弹稳定性分析奠定了基础。     

柔性翼微型飞行器垂直阵风响应特性的实验研究

微型飞行器因其体积小、重量轻、使用灵活、成本低,广泛应用于军民领域的侦查、通讯、搜救等领域。在制约微型飞行器发展的诸多因素中,阵风对微型飞行器的稳定、安全飞行影响很大。在南京航空航天大学非定常风洞内,研制了一套垂直阵风装置,进行了垂直阵风的流场测试。设计制作了一种柔性翼微7型飞行器,并制作了刚性翼与其对比,在国内首次进行了微型飞行器垂直阵风实验。结果表明：柔性翼能够提高微型飞行器的失速迎角,且具有更好的纵向稳定性,有一定的垂直阵风缓和能力,有利于安全、稳定飞行。     

高超声速飞行器宽速域翼型/机翼设计与分析

对于现代高超声速飞行器的设计而言,除了需要保证高超声速的性能外,还必须兼顾满足工程需求的亚跨超声速特性。首先,采用雷诺平均Navier-Stokes（RANS）方程流动求解器,结合基于Kriging模型的代理优化算法,开展了高超声速飞行器宽速域翼型的优化设计研究,设计出了一种下表面具有双"S"形特征的新翼型。综合性能评估结果表明,该翼型相比于常规的高超声速翼型,在跨声速和高超声速下具有更加优良的气动特性;其跨声速状态下的升阻比达到78.9,高超声速状态下的升阻比达到5.94,能够实现宽速域内良好的综合气动性能。其次,开展了仿德国"桑格尔号"（SANGER）空天飞机运载机机翼的气动特性研究,对配置宽速域翼型与常规高超声速翼型的机翼进行了气动力特性综合对比分析。结果表明,配置新翼型的机翼在宽速域范围内整体气动性能更优,说明所设计的宽速域翼型在三维机翼上也具有一定的实用价值。