Airframe design and CFD analysis of light unmanned reconnaissance aircraft

Abstract

This work deals with a comparative numerical finite volume method of airflow for a 3D airframe model. The analyzed airframe model allowed 3-vector thrust directing while using the geometry of the inverted delta, which increases lift force area, allows for vertical take-off and landing, as well as full control of its flight using rotating propulsion nacelles and an airframe control system. The airframe model dimensions were 3900 x 3250 x 915 mm, enabling the installation of components of specific dimensions. CFD analysis using a four-equation transition SST model with automatic surface roughness and initial conditions: T = 288K, viscosity η= 1.7894∙ 10−5 and was carried out in the FLUENT module of ANSYS 16.0. For each simulation, 2000 iterations were performed with the intention of achieving a convergence of all residuals below 1∙10-3 using a calculation mesh consisting of 500,000 elements and 150,000 nodes. The model uses aerodynamic profile geometries: CLARK Y, NACA 6409, and NACA 2414, which are provided to obtain the optimal aerodynamic characteristics and determine the optimal range of angles of attack for the designed solution. Those angles of attack were in the range of α = 5 ÷ 10° in which the highest excellence coefficient of the carrier airfoil profile occurs. For those values of parameters optimal lift and drag forces were determined