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Article
Publication date: 30 October 2023

Andrzej Krzysiak, Robert Placek, Aleksander Olejnik and Łukasz Kiszkowiak

The main purpose of this study was to determine the basic aerodynamic characteristics of the airliner Tu-154M at the wide range of the overcritical angles of attack and sideslip…

Abstract

Purpose

The main purpose of this study was to determine the basic aerodynamic characteristics of the airliner Tu-154M at the wide range of the overcritical angles of attack and sideslip angles, i.e. α = −900° ÷ 900° and β = −900° ÷ 900°.

Design/methodology/approach

Wind tunnel tests of the Tu-154M aircraft model at the scale 1:20 were performed in a low-speed wind tunnel T-3 by using a six-component internal aerodynamic balance. Several model configurations were also investigated.

Findings

The results of the presented studies showed that at the wide range of the overcritical angles of attack and sideslip angles, i.e. α = −900° ÷ 900° and β = −900° ÷ 900°, the Tu-154M aircraft flap deflection affected the values of the drag and lift coefficients and generally had no major effect on the values of the side force and pitching moment coefficients.

Research limitations/implications

The model vibration which was the result of flow separation at high angles of attack was the wind tunnel test limitation.

Practical implications

Studies of the airliner aerodynamic characteristics at the wide range of the overcritical angles of attack and sideslip angles allow assessment of the aircraft aerodynamic properties during possible unexpected situations when the passenger aircraft is found to have gone beyond the conventional flight envelope.

Social implications

There are no social implications of this study to report.

Originality/value

The presented wind tunnel test results of the airliner aerodynamic characteristics at overcritical angles of attack and sideslip angles is an original contribution to the existing not-too-extensive database available in the literature.

Details

Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, vol. 96 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1748-8842

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 29 November 2023

Mengxia Du, Qiao Wang, Yan Zhang, Yu Bai, Chunqiu Wei and Chunyan Liu

As to different angles of attack and nonlinear problems caused by high temperatures in coexisting hypersonic aircraft, people mainly rely on fluid software for research but lack…

Abstract

Purpose

As to different angles of attack and nonlinear problems caused by high temperatures in coexisting hypersonic aircraft, people mainly rely on fluid software for research but lack analysis of flow mechanisms. Owing to computational difficulties, few people use numerical algorithms to combine them for discussion. Hence, this study aims to make a deep inquiry into the laminar flow and heat transfer of compressible Newtonian fluid in hypersonic aircraft with small attack angles.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, on the basis of mass, momentum and energy conservation laws, the governing equations of the hypersonic boundary layer are established. Viscosity, specific heat capacity and thermal conductivity are considered nonlinear functions concerning temperature. In virtue of the MacCormack finite difference method, the stationary numerical solutions are solved directly, and the validity of the algorithm is verified.

Findings

The results demonstrate that at Mach number 5, compared to the 0° attack angle, the maximum temperature near-wall at the 3° attack angle increases by about 25%. An enjoyable phenomenon is discovered, where the position corresponding to the maximum wall shear force shifts back as the attack angle and Mach number increase. The relationship between the near-wall maximum temperature versus attack angle and Mach number is fitted through numerical calculation results.

Originality/value

Empirical formulas can be used to estimate heat transfer characteristics at small attack angles, which will guide the design of aircraft thermal protection systems.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. 34 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 2 December 2022

Mohamed Arif Raj Mohamed, Ketu Satish Kumar Reddy and Somaraju Sai Sri Vishnu

The high lift devices are effective at high angle of attack to increase the coefficient of lift by increasing the camber. But it affects the low angle of attack aerodynamic…

Abstract

Purpose

The high lift devices are effective at high angle of attack to increase the coefficient of lift by increasing the camber. But it affects the low angle of attack aerodynamic performance by increasing the drag. Hence, they have made as a movable device to deploy only at high angles of attack, which increases the design and installation complexities. This study aims to focus on the comparison of aerodynamic efficiency of different conventional leading edge (LE) slat configurations with simple fixed bioinspired slat design.

Design/methodology/approach

This research analyzes the effect of LE slat on aerodynamic performance of CLARK Y airfoil at low and high angles of attack. Different geometrical parameters such as slat chord, cutoff, gap, width and depth of LE slat have been considered for the analysis.

Findings

It has been found that the LE slat configuration with slat chord 30% of airfoil chord, forward extension 8% of chord, dip 3% of chord and gap 0.75% of chord gives higher aerodynamic efficiency (Cl/Cd) than other LE slat configurations, but it affects the low angles of attack aerodynamic performance with the deployed condition. Hence, this optimum slat configuration is further modified by closing the gap between LE slat and the main airfoil, which is inspired by the marine mammal’s nose. Thus increases the coefficient of lift at high angles of attack due to better acceleration over the airfoil nose and as well enhances the aerodynamic efficiency at low angles of attack.

Research limitations/implications

The two-dimensional computational analysis has been done for different LE slat’s geometrical parameters at low subsonic speed.

Practical implications

This bio-inspired nose design improves aerodynamic performance and increases the structural strength of aircraft wing compared to the conventional LE slat. This fixed design avoids the complex design and installation difficulties of conventional movable slats.

Social implications

The findings will have significant impact on the fields of aircraft wing and wind turbine designs, which reduces the design and manufacturing complexities.

Originality/value

Different conventional slat configurations have been analyzed and compared with a simple fixed bioinspired slat nose design at low subsonic speed.

Details

Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, vol. 95 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1748-8842

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 26 September 2023

Rossana Fernandes, Benyang Hu, Zhichao Wang, Zheng Zhang and Ali Y. Tamijani

This paper aims to assess the feasibility of additively manufactured wind tunnel models. The additively manufactured model was used to validate a computational framework allowing…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to assess the feasibility of additively manufactured wind tunnel models. The additively manufactured model was used to validate a computational framework allowing the evaluation of the performance of five wing models.

Design/methodology/approach

An optimized fighter wing was additively manufactured and tested in a low-speed wind tunnel to obtain the aerodynamic coefficients and deflections at different speeds and angles of attack. The flexible wing model with optimized curvilinear spars and ribs was used to validate a finite element framework that was used to study the aeroelastic performance of five wing models. As a computationally efficient optimization method, homogenization-based topology optimization was used to generate four different lattice internal structures for the wing in this study. The efficiency of the spline-based optimization used for the spar-rib model and the lattice-based optimization used for the other four wings were compared.

Findings

The aerodynamic loads and displacements obtained experimentally and computationally were in good agreement, proving that additive manufacture can be used to create complex accurate models. The study also shows the efficiency of the homogenization-based topology optimization framework in generating designs with superior stiffness.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first time a wing model with curvilinear spars and ribs was additively manufactured as a single piece and tested in a wind tunnel. This research also demonstrates the efficiency of homogenization-based topology optimization in generating enhanced models of different complexity.

Details

Rapid Prototyping Journal, vol. 30 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1355-2546

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 11 October 2023

Mano S. and Nadaraja Pillai S.

This study aims to investigate the effect of downstream characteristics of S809 wind turbine blade with various extended flat plate (EFP) configuration. Wind farms are recently…

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the effect of downstream characteristics of S809 wind turbine blade with various extended flat plate (EFP) configuration. Wind farms are recently modified to improve the power production through placing number of wind turbines and locations.

Design/methodology/approach

A series of wind tunnel experiments were carried out to evaluate the downstream wake characteristics of the S809 airfoil attached with various EFP (EFP, A = 0.1C, 0.2C and 0.3C) at various angles of attack corresponding to free stream velocity Reynolds number (Re) = 2.11 × 105 and various turbulence intensity (TI = 5%, 7%, 10% and 12%).

Findings

For the S809 wind turbine blade attached with EFP, the downstream velocity ratio decreases with increasing in angle of attack and the velocity deficit decrease with increasing turbulence intensity (TI) up to TI = 10%. The wake intensity for the S809 wind turbine blade and S809 airfoil with 10% of chord EFP performs the same for each downstream location.

Practical implications

Placing the wind turbine in the wind park next to another wind turbine poses a potential challenge for the park power performance. This research addresses the characteristics of the downstream turbulence intensity profile modified with the EFP in the wind turbine blade which improves the downstream characteristics of the turbine in the wind park.

Originality/value

The downstream velocity ratio decreases with increasing angle of attack and the velocity deficit decrease with increasing turbulence intensity (TI) up to TI = 10%.

Details

Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, vol. 95 no. 10
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1748-8842

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 2 March 2023

Shima Yazdani, Erfan Salimipour, Ayoob Salimipour, Mikhail A. Sheremet and Mohammad Ghalambaz

Active flow control on the NACA 0024 airfoil defined as suction-injection jet at the chord-based Reynolds number of 1.5 × 1e + 5 is studied.

Abstract

Purpose

Active flow control on the NACA 0024 airfoil defined as suction-injection jet at the chord-based Reynolds number of 1.5 × 1e + 5 is studied.

Design/methodology/approach

The three-dimensional incompressible unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes equations with the SST k-ω turbulence model are used to study the effects of coflow-jet (CFJ) on the dynamic and static stall phenomena. CFJ implementation is conducted with several momentum coefficients to investigate their turnover. Furthermore, the current work intends to analyze the CFJ performance by varying the Reynolds number and jet momentum coefficient and comparing all states to the baseline airfoil, which has not been studied in prior research investigations.

Findings

It is observed that at the momentum coefficient () of 0.06, the lift coefficients at low attack angles (up to a = 15) dramatically increase. Furthermore, the dynamic stall at the given Reynolds number and with the lowered frequency of 0.15 is explored. In the instance of = 0.07, the lift coefficient curve does not show a noticeable stall feature compared to = 0.05, suggesting that a more powerful stronger jet can entirely control the dynamic stall.

Originality/value

Furthermore, the current work intends to analyze the CFJ performance by varying the jet momentum coefficient and comparing all states to the baseline airfoil, which has not been studied in prior research investigations.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. 33 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 24 April 2024

Hangyue Zhang, Yanchu Yang and Rong Cai

This paper aims to present numerical simulations for a series of flight processes for the postlaunching stage of the “balloon-borne UAV system.” It includes the balloon further…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to present numerical simulations for a series of flight processes for the postlaunching stage of the “balloon-borne UAV system.” It includes the balloon further ascent motion after airborne launching. In terms of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), the tailspin state and the charge-out process with an anti-tailspin parachute-assisted suspending are analyzed. Then, the authors conduct trajectory optimization simulations for the long-distance gliding process.

Design/methodology/approach

The balloon kinematics model and the parachute Kane multibody dynamic model are established. Using steady-state tailspin to reduced-order analysis and achieving change-out simulation by parachute suspension dynamic model. A reentry optimization control problem is developed and the Radau pseudo-spectral method is used to calculate the glide trajectory.

Findings

The established dynamic model and trajectory optimization method can effectively simulate the motion process of balloons and UAVs. The system mass reduction for launching UAVs will not cause damage to the balloon structure. The anti-tailspin parachute can reduce the UAV attack angles effectively. The UAV can glide to the designated target position by adjusting the attack angle and sideslip angle. The farthest flight distance after launching from 20 km height is 94 km and the gliding time is 40 min, which demonstrates the potential application advantage of high-altitude launching.

Practical implications

The research content and related conclusions of this article achieve a closed-loop analysis of the flight mission chain for the “balloon-borne UAV system,” which provides simulation references for relevant balloon launching experiments.

Originality/value

This paper establishes a complete set of numerical simulation models and can effectively analyze various postlaunching behaviors.

Details

Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1748-8842

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 22 June 2023

Simon Bagy, Michel Libsig, Bastien Martinez and Baptiste Masse

This paper aims to describe the use of optimization approaches to increase the range of near-future howitzer ammunition.

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to describe the use of optimization approaches to increase the range of near-future howitzer ammunition.

Design/methodology/approach

The performance of a gliding projectile concept is assessed using an aeroballistic workflow, comprising aerodynamic characterization and flight trajectory computation. First, a single-objective optimization is run with genetic algorithms to find the maximal attainable range for this type of projectile. Then, a multi-objective formulation of the problem is proposed to consider the compromise between range and time of flight. Finally, the aerodynamic model used for the gliding ammunition is evaluated, in comparison with direct computational fluid dynamics (CFD) computations.

Findings

Applying single-objective range maximization results in a great improvement of the reachable distance of the projectile, at the expense of the flight duration. Therefore, a multi-objective optimization is implemented in a second time, to search sets of parameters resulting in an optimal compromise between fire range and flight time. The resulting Pareto front can be directly interpreted and has the advantage of being useful for tactical decisions.

Research limitations/implications

The main limitation of the work concerns the aerodynamic model of the gliding ammunition, which was initially proposed as an alternative to reduce significantly the computational cost of aerodynamic characterization and enable optimizations. When compared with direct CFD computations, this method appears to induce an overestimation of the range. This suggests future evolution to improve the accuracy of this approach.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper presents an original ammunition concept for howitzers, aiming at extending the range of fire by using lifting surfaces and guidance. In addition, optimization techniques are used to improve the range of such projectile configuration.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 23 October 2023

Shengxian Huang, Huihe Qiu and Ying Wang

Since most of the existing literature do not disclose the node coordinate data of its fixed-wing aircraft airfoil, in order to develop and obtain a practical and suitable…

Abstract

Purpose

Since most of the existing literature do not disclose the node coordinate data of its fixed-wing aircraft airfoil, in order to develop and obtain a practical and suitable deformation airfoil for fixed-wing micro air vehicle (MAV), this paper proposes an improved airfoil design method of fixed-wing MAV based on the profile data of S5010 airfoil.

Design/methodology/approach

Combined with the body shape variation of the stingray in the propulsion process, the parametric study of the aerodynamic shape of the original design airfoil is carried out to explore the influence of a single parameter change on the aerodynamic performance of the airfoil. Then, according to the influence law of single parameter variation on the aerodynamic performance of the airfoil, the original airfoil is synthetically deformed by changing multiple parameters.

Findings

By comparing the aerodynamic performance of the multi-parameter deformed airfoil with the original airfoil, it is found that the lift coefficient of the multi-parameter deformed airfoil changes from negative to positive value when AOA = 0°. When AOA = 2°, the lift coefficient growth rate is the largest, which is 47.27%, and the lift-to-drag ratio is increased by 50.00%. At other angles of attack, the lift, drag, and torque coefficients of the multi-parameter deformed airfoil are optimized to some extent.

Originality/value

Combined the body shape variation of the stingray in the propulsion process, the parametric study of the aerodynamic shape of the original design airfoil is carried out to explore the influence of a single parameter change on the aerodynamic performance of the airfoil.

Details

Engineering Computations, vol. 40 no. 9/10
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0264-4401

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 7 March 2023

Wei Jiang, Ray C. Chang, Shuqin Zhang and Shixin Zang

This study aims to present a diagnosis method to inspect the structure health for aging transport aircraft based on the postflight data in severe clear-air turbulence at transonic…

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to present a diagnosis method to inspect the structure health for aging transport aircraft based on the postflight data in severe clear-air turbulence at transonic flight. The purpose of this method development is to assist certificate holder of aircraft maintenance factory as a complementary tool for the structural maintenance program to ensure that the transport aircraft fits airworthiness standards.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, the numerical approach to analyze the characteristics of flight dynamic and static aeroelasticity for two four-jet transport aircraft will be presented. One of these two four-jet transport aircraft is an aging one. Another one is used to demonstrate the order of magnitude of the static aeroelastic behaviors. The nonlinear unsteady aerodynamic models are established through flight data mining and the fuzzy-logic modeling technique based on postflight data. The first and second derivatives of flight dynamic and static aeroelastic behaviors, respectively, are then estimated by using these aerodynamic models.

Findings

Although the highest dynamic pressure of aging aircraft is lower, the highest absolute value of static aeroelastic effects response to the wing of aging aircraft is about 3.05 times larger than normal one; the magnitude variations of angles of attack are similar for both aircrafts; the highest absolute value of the static aeroelastic effects response to the empennage of aging aircraft is about 29.67 times larger than normal one in severe clear-air turbulence. The stabilizer of aging aircraft has irregular deviations with obvious jackscrew assembly problems, as found in this study.

Research limitations/implications

A lack of the measurement data of vertical wind speed sensor on board to verify the estimated values of damping term is one of the research limitations of this study. This research involved potential problem monitoring of structure health for transport aircraft in different weights, different sizes and different service years. In the future research, one can consider more structural integrity issues for other types of aircraft.

Practical implications

It can be realized from this study that the structure of aging transport aircraft may have potential safety threat. Therefore, when the airline managed aging transport aircraft, it ought to be conducted comprehensive and in-depth inspections to reduce such safety risks and establish a complete set of safety early warning measures to deal with the potential problem of aircraft aging.

Social implications

It can be realized that the structure of aging transport aircraft has potential safety threat. The airline managed aging transport aircraft; it should conduct comprehensive and in-depth inspections to reduce safety risks and establish a complete set of safety early warning measures.

Originality/value

This method can be used to assist airlines to monitor aging transport aircraft as a complementary tool of structural maintenance program to improve aviation safety, operation and operational efficiency.

Details

Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, vol. 95 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1748-8842

Keywords

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