Numerical and analytical evaluation of airship configuration

Abstract

Today, airships have many uses and have been considered because they combine the benefits of a ship and an aircraft and the low cost of energy consumption. In this research, with the help of numerical solutions and analytical solutions in Datcom, three common configurations of an airship at various angles of attack are investigated. The results of numerical and analytical solutions are compared. Flow condition was considered at an altitude of 4 km above the ground. The same results are not obtained in numerical and analytical solutions. Certainly, numerical results can be cited more than analytical solutions because Datcom software has computational errors and has been simplified. It has been developed for the analytical flow solution on the slender body. However, despite the existing error, this software can be used to extract computational processes and sensitization some parameters. The results show that the approach of the tail fins to the tip of the airship increases the lift-to-drag ratio, and with increasing the length-to-diameter ratio, the aerodynamic performance also improves. In all variants, converting the fins to a cross-type variant improves the vehicle's aerodynamic performance.