Impact of Flexibility on the Aerodynamics of an Aspect Ratio Two Membrane Wing

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raymond E. Gordnier ◽  
Peter J. Attar
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Aspect Ratio ◽  
Micro Air Vehicles ◽  
Navier Stokes ◽  
Elastic Membrane ◽  
Pitching Moment ◽  
Flexible Membrane ◽  
Membrane Wing ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Air Vehicles

Development of an aeroelastic solver with application to flexible membrane wings for micro air vehicles is presented. A high-order (up to 6th order) Navier-Stokes solver is coupled with a geometrically nonlinear p-version Reissner-Mindlin finite element plate model to simulate the highly flexible elastic membrane. An implicit LES approach is employed to compute the mixed laminar/transitional/turbulent flowfields present for the low Reynolds number flows associated with micro air vehicles. Computations are performed for an aspect ratio two membrane wing at angles of attack α = 10°, 16° and 23° for a Reynolds number, Re = 24,300. Comparisons of the computational results with experimental PIV and surface deflection measurements demonstrated reasonable agreement. Reduced separation and enhanced lift are obtained due to favorable interactions between the flexible membrane wing and the unsteady flow over the wing. The impact of flexibility on the aerodynamic performance comes primarily from the development of mean camber with some further effects arising from the interaction between the dynamic motion of the membrane and the unsteady flowfield above. At lower angles of attack this lift enhancement comes at the cost of reduced L/D. The nose-down pitching moment increases with flexibility at the lowest angle of attack but is reduced for the higher two angles of attack. These results suggest that membrane flexibility might provide a means to reduce the impact of strong gust encounter by maintaining lift and reducing the effect of the gust on pitching moment.

Implicit LES Simulations for an Aspect Ratio Two Flexible Membrane Wing

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raymond E. Gordnier ◽  
Peter J. Attar
Keyword(s):  
Vortex Dynamics ◽  
Micro Air Vehicles ◽  
Navier Stokes ◽  
Elastic Membrane ◽  
Geometrically Nonlinear ◽  
Flexible Membrane ◽  
Low Reynolds Number Flows ◽  
Air Vehicle ◽  
Membrane Wing ◽  
Reynolds Number Flows

Development of an aeroelastic solver with application to flexible membrane wings for micro air vehicle applications is presented. A high-order (up to 6th order) Navier-Stokes solver is coupled with a geometrically nonlinear p-version Reissner-Mindlin finite element plate model to simulate the highly flexible elastic membrane. An implicit LES approach is employed to compute the mixed laminar/transitional/turbulent flowfields present for the low Reynolds number flows associated with micro air vehicles. Intitial computations for a baseline rigid membrane wing are presented to understand the complex vortex dynamics associated with these flows before proceeding with the more challenging flexible cases.

scholarly journals WIND TUNNEL CALIBRATION, CORRECTIONS AND EXPERIMENTAL VALIDATION FOR FIXED-WING MICRO AIR VEHICLES MEASUREMENTS

Aviation ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 104-113
Author(s):  
Ahmed Aboelezz ◽  
Yunes Elqudsi ◽  
Mostafa Hassanalian ◽  
Ahmed Desoki
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Wind Tunnel ◽  
Aspect Ratio ◽  
Low Reynolds Number ◽  
Micro Air Vehicles ◽  
Measured Data ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Low Aspect Ratio ◽  
Low Reynolds ◽  
Air Vehicles

The increase in the number of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and Micro Air Vehicles (MAVs), which are used in a variety of applications has led to a surge in low Reynolds number aerodynamics research. Flow around fixedwing MAVs has an unusual behavior due to its low aspect ratio and operates at low Reynolds number, which demanded to upgrade the used wind tunnel for this study. This upgrade enables measuring the small aerodynamics forces and moment of fixed-wing MAVs. The wind tunnel used in this work is upgraded with a state of art data acquisition system to deal with the different sensors signals in the wind tunnel. For accurate measurements, the sting balance, angle sensor, and airspeed sensor are calibrated. For validation purposes, an experiment is made on a low aspect ratio flat plate wing at low Reynolds number, and the measured data are corrected and compared with published results. The procedure presented in this paper for the first time gave a detailed and complete guide for upgrading and calibrating old wind tunnel, all the required corrections to correct the measured data was presented, the turbulence level correction new technique presented in this paper could be used to estimate the flow turbulence effect on the measured data and correct the measured data against published data.

Modal Analysis of a Flexible Membrane Wing of Micro Air Vehicles

2011 ◽  
Vol 48 (6) ◽  
pp. 1960-1967 ◽  
Author(s):  
Uttam Kumar Chakravarty ◽  
Roberto Albertani
Keyword(s):  
Modal Analysis ◽  
Micro Air Vehicles ◽  
Flexible Membrane ◽  
Membrane Wing ◽  
Air Vehicles

Membrane Wing-Based Micro Air Vehicles

2005 ◽  
Vol 58 (4) ◽  
pp. 283-301 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Shyy ◽  
Peter Ifju ◽  
Dragos Viieru
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Low Reynolds Number ◽  
Optimization Technique ◽  
Micro Air Vehicles ◽  
Flight Speed ◽  
Tip Vortex ◽  
Flexible Wing ◽  
Membrane Wing ◽  
Low Reynolds ◽  
Air Vehicles

Micro air vehicles (MAVs) with a wingspan of 15cm or shorter, and flight speed around 10m∕s have attracted substantial interest in recent years. There are several prominent features of MAV flight: (i) low Reynolds number (104-105), resulting in degraded aerodynamic performance, (ii) small physical dimensions, resulting in certain favorable scaling characteristics including structural strength, reduced stall speed, and impact tolerance, and (iii) low flight speed, resulting in order one effect of the flight environment and intrinsically unsteady flight characteristics. Flexible wings utilizing membrane materials are employed by natural flyers such as bats and insects. Compared to a rigid wing, a membrane wing can better adapt to the stall and has the potential for morphing to achieve enhanced agility and storage consideration. We will discuss the aerodynamics of both rigid and membrane wings under the MAV flight condition. To understand membrane wing performance, the fluid and structure interaction is of critical importance. Flow structures associated with the low Reynolds number and low aspect ratio wing, such as pressure distribution, separation bubble, and tip vortex, as well as structural dynamics in response to the surrounding flow field are discussed. Based on the computational capabilities for treating moving boundary problems, an automated wing shape optimization technique is also developed. Salient features of the flexible-wing-based MAV, including the vehicle concept, flexible wing design, novel fabrication methods, aerodynamic assessment, and flight data analysis are highlighted.

scholarly journals Numerical analysis of high-lift configurations with oscillating flaps

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johannes Ruhland ◽  
Christian Breitsamter
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Flow Separation ◽  
Separated Flow ◽  
Navier Stokes ◽  
Rotational Axis ◽  
High Lift ◽  
Hinge Point ◽  
Reduced Frequency ◽  
Flap Deflection ◽  
The Impact

AbstractThis study presents two-dimensional aerodynamic investigations of various high-lift configuration settings concerning the deflection angles of droop nose, spoiler and flap in the context of enhancing the high-lift performance by dynamic flap movement. The investigations highlight the impact of a periodically oscillating trailing edge flap on lift, drag and flow separation of the high-lift configuration by numerical simulations. The computations are conducted with regard to the variation of the parameters reduced frequency and the position of the rotational axis. The numerical flow simulations are conducted on a block-structured grid using Reynolds Averaged Navier Stokes simulations employing the shear stress transport $$k-\omega $$ k - ω turbulence model. The feature Dynamic Mesh Motion implements the motion of the oscillating flap. Regarding low-speed wind tunnel testing for a Reynolds number of $$0.5 \times 10^{6}$$ 0.5 × 10 6 the flap movement around a dropped hinge point, which is located outside the flap, offers benefits with regard to additional lift and delayed flow separation at the flap compared to a flap movement around a hinge point, which is located at 15 % of the flap chord length. Flow separation can be suppressed beyond the maximum static flap deflection angle. By means of an oscillating flap around the dropped hinge point, it is possible to reattach a separated flow at the flap and to keep it attached further on. For a Reynolds number of $$20 \times 10^6$$ 20 × 10 6 , reflecting full scale flight conditions, additional lift is generated for both rotational axis positions.

Experimental analysis of fluid-structure interaction in flexible wings at low Reynolds number flows

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mustafa Serdar Genç ◽  
Hacımurat Demir ◽  
Mustafa Özden ◽  
Tuna Murat Bodur
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Aspect Ratio ◽  
Fluid Structure Interaction ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Flexible Wings ◽  
Flexible Membrane ◽  
Fluid Structure ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Structure Interaction ◽  
Membrane Deformations

Purpose The purpose of this exhaustive experimental study is to investigate the fluid-structure interaction in the flexible membrane wings over a range of angles of attack for various Reynolds numbers. Design/methodology/approach In this paper, an experimental study on fluid-structure interaction of flexible membrane wings was presented at Reynolds numbers of 2.5 × 104, 5 × 104 and 7.5 × 104. In the experimental studies, flow visualization, velocity and deformation measurements for flexible membrane wings were performed by the smoke-wire technique, multichannel constant temperature anemometer and digital image correlation system, respectively. All experimental results were combined and fluid-structure interaction was discussed. Findings In the flexible wings with the higher aspect ratio, higher vibration modes were noticed because the leading-edge separation was dominant at lower angles of attack. As both Reynolds number and the aspect ratio increased, the maximum membrane deformations increased and the vibrations became visible, secondary vibration modes were observed with growing the leading-edge vortices at moderate angles of attack. Moreover, in the graphs of the spectral analysis of the membrane displacement and the velocity; the dominant frequencies coincided because of the interaction of the flow over the wings and the membrane deformations. Originality/value Unlike available literature, obtained results were presented comparatively using the sketches of the smoke-wire photographs with deformation measurement or turbulence statistics from the velocity measurements. In this study, fluid-structure interaction and leading-edge vortices of membrane wings were investigated in detail with increasing both Reynolds number and the aspect ratio.

Influence of Liquid Properties on Energy Conversion During Crown Evolution Following Drop Impact Upon Films

2019 ◽  
Vol 142 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yujia Zhang ◽  
Peiqing Liu ◽  
Qiulin Qu ◽  
Fanglin Liu ◽  
Ramesh K. Agarwal
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Energy Conversion ◽  
Weber Number ◽  
Stokes Equations ◽  
Drop Impact ◽  
Navier Stokes ◽  
Impact Process ◽  
Vof Model ◽  
The Moment ◽  
The Impact

Abstract The energy conversion is proposed to analyze the effects of liquid properties on the formation of an ejecta sheet, prompt splashing, and crown evolution. The incompressible laminar Navier–Stokes equations coupled with the volume-of-fluid (VOF) model are solved numerically in an axisymmetric frame to simulate the impact process. Based on the energy conversion curves and liquid–gas interface shapes, the Weber number is shown to be the main dimensionless quantity controlling the impact process, especially with regard to crown evolution. However, the Reynolds number does have some influence on the drop impact process, especially during the stage of ejecta sheet formation and prompt splashing. By studying energy conversion during the impact process, the crown evolution is shown to be accelerated significantly with decreasing Weber number, but is hardly affected by the Reynolds number. A linear relation is found between the time to the moment of crown stabilization (when the crown height reaches its maximum value) and the square root of the Weber number. The relationship between the Weber number and the energy distribution at the moment of crown stabilization is also studied.

Aeroelastic Analysis of Membrane Micro Air Vehicles

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter J. Attar ◽  
Raymond E. Gordnier ◽  
Jordan W. Johnston ◽  
William A. Romberg ◽  
Ramkumar N. Parthasarathy
Keyword(s):  
Strouhal Number ◽  
Limit Cycle ◽  
Lift Coefficient ◽  
Angle Of Attack ◽  
Micro Air Vehicles ◽  
Element Model ◽  
Wing Membrane ◽  
Reduced Frequency ◽  
Membrane Wing ◽  
Air Vehicles

The fluid and structural response of two different membrane wing Micro Air Vehicles is studied through computation and experiment. A (three) batten-reinforced fixed wing membrane micro air vehicle is used to determine the effect of membrane prestrain and fixed angle of attack on flutter and limit cycle behavior of fixed wing membrane Micro Air Vehicles. For each configuration tested, flutter and subsequent limit cycle oscillations are measured in wind tunnel tests and predicted using an aeroelastic computational model consisting of a nonlinear finite element model coupled to a vortex lattice solution of the Laplace equation and boundary conditions. Correlation between the predicted and measured onset of limit cycle oscillation is good as is the prediction of the amplitude of the limit cycle at the trailing edge of the lower membrane. A direct correlation between levels of strain and the phase of the membranes during the limit cycle is found in the computation and thought to also occur in the experiment. The second membrane wing micro air vehicle configuration is that of a plunging membrane airfoil model. This model is studied computationally using a sixth-order finite difference solution of the Navier-Stokes equations coupled to a nonlinear string finite element model. The effect, on the structural and fluid response, of plunging Strouhal number, reduced frequency and static angle of attack is examined. At two degree angle of attack, and Strouhal number of 0.2, the effect of increasing the plunging reduced frequency is to decrease the sectional lift coefficient and increase the sectional drag coefficient. At this angle of attack, minimal change in the sectional lift coefficient is found when increasing from a Strouhal number of 0.2 to 0.5 at reduced frequencies of 0.5 and 5.903, the lowest and highest values of this parameter which are studied in this work. For this angle of attack the maximum change which occurs when increasing the Strouhal number from 0.2 to 0.5 is at a reduced frequency of 1.5. When the effect of angle of attack is studied, it is found that at a Strouhal number of 0.5 and reduced frequency of 1.5 the plunging flexible model demonstrates improved lift characteristics over the fixed flexible airfoil case. The greatest improvement occurs at an angle of attack of 2 degrees followed by 10 degrees and then 6 degrees. Finally the effect on the flow characteristics of airfoil flexibility is investigated by increasing the membrane pre-strain from a nominal value of 5 percent to that of 20 percent. This increase in pre-strain results in a reduced value of sectional lift coefficient as compared the 5 percent pre-strain case at the same fixed angle of attack, Strouhal number and reduced frequency.

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