Aerodynamics analysis of rotor’s impact on the aircraft in the tandem wing configuration
Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology
ISSN: 0002-2667
Article publication date: 19 October 2018
Issue publication date: 19 March 2020
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to present the results of aerodynamic calculation of the aircraft in tandem wing configuration called VTOL. A presented vehicle combines the capabilities of the classic aircraft and helicopters. The aircraft is equipped with two pairs of tilt-rotors mounted on the tips of the front and the rear wing. The main goal of the presented research was to find the aerodynamic impact of both pairs of tilt-rotors on aerodynamic coefficients of the aircraft. Moreover, the rotors impact on the static stability of the aircraft was investigated too.
Design/methodology/approach
The CFD analysis was made for the complete aircraft in the tandem wing configuration. The computation was performed for the model of aircraft which was equipped with the four sub-models of the front and rear rotors. They were modeled as the actuator discs. This method allows for computing the aerodynamic impact of rotating components on the aircraft body. All aerodynamic analysis was made by the MGAERO software. The numerical code of the software was based on the Euler flow model. The used numerical method allows for the quick computation of very complex model of aircraft with a satisfied accuracy.
Findings
The result obtained by computation includes the aerodynamic coefficients which described the impact of the tilt rotors on the aircraft aerodynamic. The influence of the angle of attack, sideslip angle and the change of rotor tilt angle was investigated. Evaluation of the influence was made by the stability margin analysis and the selected stability derivatives computation.
Practical implications
Presented results could be very useful in the computation of dynamic stability of unconventional aircraft. Moreover, results could be helpful during designing the aircraft in the tandem wing configuration.
Originality/value
This paper presents the aerodynamic analysis of the unconventional configuration of the aircraft which combines the tandem wing feature with the tilt-rotor advantages. The impact of disturbance generated by the front and rear rotors on the flow around the aircraft was investigated. Moreover, the impact of rotors configuration on the aircraft static stability was found too.
Keywords
Citation
Figat, M. (2018), "Aerodynamics analysis of rotor’s impact on the aircraft in the tandem wing configuration", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 92 No. 3, pp. 336-344. https://doi.org/10.1108/AEAT-01-2018-0065
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited