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Slipstream Deformation of a Propeller-Wing Combination Applied for Convertible UAVs in Hover Condition

Yuchen Leng

http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2166-2746

ISAE-Supaéro, Université de Toulouse, 10 Avenue Edouard Belin, Toulouse, 31400, France

ENAC, Université de Toulouse, 7 Avenue Edouard Belin, Toulouse, 31055, France

Delair, 676 Rue Max Planck, Labège, 31670, France

E-mail Address: yuchen.leng@isae-supaero.fr

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Murat Bronz

ENAC, Université de Toulouse, 7 Avenue Edouard Belin, Toulouse, 31055, France

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Thierry Jardin

ISAE-Supaéro, Université de Toulouse, 10 Avenue Edouard Belin, Toulouse, 31400, France

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, and

Jean-Marc Moschetta

ISAE-Supaéro, Université de Toulouse, 10 Avenue Edouard Belin, Toulouse, 31400, France

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https://doi.org/10.1142/S2301385020500247Cited by:4 (Source: Crossref)

This article is part of the issue:

Special Issue for Selected Papers from IMAV 2019
Guest Editors: Pascual Campoy, Paloma de la Puente, Hriday Bavle and Adrian Carrio

Abstract

Convertible unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) combines advantages of convenient autonomous launch/recovery and efficient long range cruise performance. Successful design of this new type of aircraft relies heavily on good understanding of powered lift generated through propeller-wing interactions, where the velocity distribution within propeller slipstream is critical to estimate aerodynamic forces during hover condition. The present research studied a propeller-wing combination with a plain flap. A 5-hole probe measurement system was built to construct three-dimensional (3D) velocity field at a survey plane after wing trailing edge. The study has found that significant deformation of propeller slipstream was present in the form of opposite transverse displacement on extrados and intrados. The deformation could be enhanced by flap deflections. Velocity differences caused by the slipstream deformation could imply local variation of lift distribution compared to predictions from conventional assumptions of cylindrical slipstream. An analytical method was developed to reasonably estimate the position of deformed slipstream centreline. The research underlined that the mutual aspect of propeller-wing interaction could be critical for low-speed aerodynamic design.

This paper was recommended for publication in its revised form by editorial board member, Hriday Bavle.

Keywords:

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