Wing optimization of propeller aircraft based on actuator disc method

Abstract

Propeller aircraft are widely used in general aviation. The rotating propeller has a strong effect on the aerodynamic performance of the wing. This paper uses an actuator disc to model the effect of the propeller. A wing optimization method is developed with the actuator disc method. Several wing optimizations with different slipstream settings are studied. The twist angle and airfoils of the wing are used as the design variables. The results show that the propeller slipstream and slipstream directions have a strong influence on the optimization process. Powered-on optimization with a slipstream can obtain better drag reduction results than unpowered optimization. The drag decomposition results show that most of the drag reduction comes from the form drag reduction. The symmetric “inboard-up” slipstream configuration is found to have the highest lift-to-drag ratios, which are 18.87 for the twist angle optimization and 19.15 for the airfoil optimization.