Influence of wing shape on characteristics of fan-wing aircraft power plant

Bohdan Komarov, Dmytro Zinchenko, Oleksandr Andrieiev

Abstract


The subject of the study is the optimization of aerodynamic characteristics by improving the wing profile shape for the fan-wing configuration. The aim of this work is to find a more universal wing shape suitable for various aircraft. The task is to compare the characteristics of three wings with the same rotor engine installed in the nose section, including the base wing used in most previous studies by scientists. Sources suggested that this profile is not well-suited for rotor engines with a large aspect ratio. Experimental methods were used to measure the dynamic characteristics of three wing profiles: a flat curved profile with a cut-out in the rear wing section, a flat lower surface profile, an S-shaped profile with a lower surface bend in the rotor area, and a two-bend contour with a cut-out in the rear wing section on top and bottom. The results showed an improvement in characteristics compared with wing-rotor engine schemes used in previous cases. Specifically, an increase in the flow velocity at the wing exit of 3...8 % depending on the power plant operating mode was found, which led to an increase in lift up to 20 % depending on the flight mode, and an increase in thrust up to 16 %. Conclusions. The proposed S-shaped profile with a lower surface bend in the area of the rotor hub, and a profile with two bends in the contour with a cut in the rear part of the wing from the top and bottom contours have the most optimal and balanced characteristics. In the future, it is planned to manufacture these profiles using composite materials to reduce weight and install them on the aircraft prototype, replacing the rotor structure with a more flexible one using more flexible materials such as PETG plastic for the synchronization of the installed rotor motors, which is necessary to increase reliability and backup the rotor drive. Additionally, several sections with independent engines are planned to be made on each wing console to counteract rotor rupture in the event of engine failure. Due to significant advantages over the standard profile shape and minor structural complexity, the manufacture of more complex profile shapes can find wide applications in aircraft designed according to the fan-wing scheme.

Keywords


fan-wing; aerodynamic profile; optimization; active control; boundary layer

References


Komarov, B. G. and Zinchenko, D. M. Vplyv formy rotornoho rushiya na kharakterystyky intehrovanoyi z krylom sylovoyi ustanovky litaka [The influence of the shape of the rotor thruster on the characteristics of the aircraft power plant integrated with the wing]. Mechanics of gyroscopic systems, 2020, no. 40, pp. 123-132. DOI: 10.20535/0203-3771402020248785.

Houghton, E. L., Carpenter, P. W., Collicott, S. H. and Valentine, D. T. Flow Control and Wing Design. Aerodynamics for Engineering Students (Sixth Edition), 2013, pp. 601–642. DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-08-096632-8.00009-6.

Duddempudi, D., Yao, Y., Edmondson, D., Yao, J. and Curley, A. Computational study of flow over generic fan-wing airfoil. Aircraft Engineering & Aerospace Technology, 2007, vol. 37, no. 3, pp. 238-244. DOI: 10.1108/00022660710743831.

Albani, A. and Peebles, P. Span Rotor: Prove Tecniche Relazione. Universitá degli Studi di Roma, Rome, La Sapienza, 1997.

Forshaw, S. Wind-Tunnel Investigation of FanWing. London, Final Year Project, M. Eng. Imperial College, 1999.

Kogler, K. Fanwing, experimental evaluation of a novel lift and propulsion device. London Imperial College, 2002.

Gad-el-Hak, Mohamed. 9 - Low-Reynolds-Number Aerodynamics. 10 - Drag Reduction. 11 - Mixing Enhancement. Flow Control: passive, active, and reactive flow management, Cambridge University Press, 2009, pp. 189-249. DOI: 10.1017/CBO9780511529535.

Benferhat, S., Yahiaoui, T., Imine, B., Ladjedel, O. and Šikula, O. Experimental and numerical study of turbulent flow around a Fanwings profile. Engineering Applications of Computational Fluid Mechanics, 2019, vol. 13, iss. 1, pp. 698-712. DOI: 10.1080/19942060.2019.1639076.

Tsagarakis, M. S. Project Solaris – Analysis of airfoil for solar powered flying wing UAV. Mälardalen University Sweden, 2011, pp. 5-27. Report code: MDH.IDT.FLYG.21.10.2011.GN300.15HP.Ae

Błoński, D., Strzelecka, K. and Kudela, H. Vortex Trapping Cavity on Airfoil: High-Order Penalized Vortex Method Numerical Simulation and Water Tunnel Experimental Investigation. Energies, 2021, vol. 14, iss. 24, article no. 8402. DOI: 10.3390/en14248402.

De Gregorio, F. and Fraioli, G. Flow control on a high thickness airfoil by a trapped vortex cavity. 14th Int Symposium on Applications of Laser Techniques to Fluid Mechanics, 7-10 July, 2008, Paper No. 1363, Lisbon, Portugal, 2008. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Fabrizio-De-Gregorio-2/publication/267575042_Flow_control_on_a_high_thickness_airfoil_by_trapped_vortex_cavity/links/54536a060cf2bccc4909fef6/Flow-control-on-a-high-thickness-airfoil-by-trapped-vortex-cavity.pdf. (accessed 06.02.2023).

Lumsdaine, E., Johnson, S., Fletcher, L. and Peach, E. Investigation of the Kline-Fogleman airfoil section for rotor blade applications. Contractor Report (CR), No. 19750006642. The university of Knoxville, Tennessee, Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted, 1974. Available at: https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/19750006642/downloads/19750006642.pdf. (accessed 06.02.2023).

Kim, T.-A., Kim, D.-W., Park, S.-K. and Kim, J. Performance of a cross-flow fan with various shapes of a rearguider and an exit duct. Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology, 2008, no. 22, pp. 1876-1882. DOI: 10.1007/s12206-008-0726-9.

Selva, S., Pon, J. Shri. and Sridevi, C. Design and analysis of fanwing concept in conventional wing aircraft. Journal of Basic and Applied Engineering Research, 2014, vol. 1, no. 3, pp. 68-72. Available at: https://www.krishisanskriti.org/vol_image/02Jul201504073617.pdf. (accessed 06.02.2023).

Siliang, Du., Qijun, Zhao. and Bo, Wang. Research on Distributed Jet Blowing Wing Based on the Principle of Fan-Wing Vortex-Induced Lift and Thrust. International Journal of Aerospace Engineering, 2019, vol. 2019, article no. 7561856. DOI: 10.1155/2019/7561856.

Lin, M., Yongquang, Ye. and Nan, Li. Research progress and application prospects of fan-wing aircraft. Acta Aeronauticaet Astrunautica Sinica, 2015, vol. 36, no. 8, pp. 2651-2661. DOI: 10.7527/S1000-6893.2015.0058.

Askari, A. and Shojaeefard, M. H. Experimental and numerical study of an airfoil in combination with a cross flow far. Journal of Aerospace Engineering, 2012, vol. 227, iss. 7, pp. 1173-1187. DOI: 10.1177/0954410012452213.

Zargar, O. A., Lin, Tee., Zebua, A. G., Lai, T.-J., Shih, Y.-C., Hu, S.-C. and Leggett, C. The effects of surface modifications on aerodynamic characteristics of airfoil DU 06 W 200 at low Reynolds numbers. International Journal of Thermofluids, 2022, vol. 16, pp. 1-12, article no. 100208. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijft.2022.100208.

Krashnitsa, Yu. A. and Hoshmandi, A. Nekotoryye rezul'taty eksperimental'nykh issledovaniy aerodinamicheskikh kharakteristik elementov nesushchikh sistem letatel'nykh apparatov [Some results of experimental investigations of aerodynamic characteristics of elements of aircraft carrying systems]. Aviacijno-kosmicna tehnika i tehnologia – Aerospace technic and technology, 2017, no. 6, pp. 90-97. ISSN: 1727-7337, ISSN: 2663-2217.

Krashnitsa, Yu. and Zhyriakov, D. Numerical study of aerodynamic characteristics of airfoil with high-lift devices. Aviacijno-kosmicna tehnika i tehnologia – Aerospace technic and technology, 2023, no. 1, pp. 55-66. DOI: 10.32620/aktt.2023.1.06.

Kokotina, V. V., Lesnaya, L. A. and Harchenko, V. G. Vliyaniye chelovecheskogo faktora pri sozdanii aviatsionnykh dvigateley [Influence of human factor in creation of aircraft engines]. Aviacijno-kosmicna tehnika i tehnologia – Aerospace technic and technology, 2021, no. 4 sup. 1, pp. 5-10. DOI: 10.32620/aktt.2021.4sup1.01.




DOI: https://doi.org/10.32620/aktt.2023.2.02