Wing Structural Model for Overall Aircraft Design of Distributed Electric Propulsion General Aviation and Regional Aircraft

In the context of reducing the environmental footprint of tomorrow’s aviation, Distributed Electric Propulsion (DEP) has become an increasingly interesting concept. With the strong coupling between disciplines that this technology brings forth, multiple benefits are expected for the overall aircraft design. These interests have been observed not only in the aerodynamic properties of the aircraft but also in the structural design. However, current statistical models used in conceptual design have shown limitations regarding the benefits and challenges coming from these new design trends. As for other methods, they are either not adapted for use in a conceptual design phase or do not cover CS-23 category aircraft. This paper details a semi-analytical methodology compliant with the performance-based certification criteria presented by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to predict the structural mass breakdown of a wing. This makes the method applicable to any aircraft regulated by EASA CS-23. Results have been validated with the conventional twin-engine aircraft Beechcraft 76, the innovative NASA X-57 Maxwell concept using DEP, and the commuter aircraft Beechcraft 1900.

Computational Analysis of the Rotating Cylinder Embedment onto Flat Plate

The Magnus effect and its evolution have greatly affected the aerospace industry over the past century to date. Nevertheless, cylinder embedment onto a flat plate offers a new discovery that is yet to be investigated, specifically whether the concept could enhance the aerodynamic properties of the flat plate following the Magnus effect momentum injection. Over the past decade, the use of a rotating cylinder on an aerofoil has existed from past researches studies where the embedment has significantly increased in its aerodynamic performance better than the one without Magnus application. However, it would be hard to achieve experimental-wise as an accurate measurement and fabrication would be needed to have the same resulting effects. Here, most of the researchers would not focus deeply on the placement of the cylinder as this may increase their fabrication and testing complications. Therefore, the current study delineates the use of flat plate as the foundation design to encounter the arise matter by reducing its complication yet easy to manufacture experimentally. In this work, the model output was evaluated by using ANSYS WORKBENCH 2019 software to simulate two-dimensional flow analysis for the rotational velocities of 500 RPM and 1000 RPM, respectively. This was done for different Reynolds numbers ranging from 4.56E+05 to 2.74E+06 which implicitly implied with free stream velocities varying from 5 m/s to 30 m/s for different angles of attack between 0 to 20 degrees. Prior to developing the best model embedment, the mesh independency test was validated with an error of less than 1%. The study resulted in a remarkable trend that was noticeably up to 32% (500 RPM) and 76% (1000 RPM) better in compared to the one without momentum injection. Similarly, the high recovery led to a tremendously lower of 51% (500 RPM) and 99% (1000 RPM), respectively. In sum, these findings generated a stall angle delay of up to 26% (500 RPM) and 78% (1000 RPM) accordingly.

Numerical Analysis on the Crosswind Influence Around a Generic Train Moving on Different Bridge Configurations

In this article, a numerical approach is applied to study the flow regimes surround a generic train model travelling on different bridge configurations under the influence of crosswind. The bridge is varies based on the different geometry of the bridge girder. The crosswind flow angle (Ψ) is varied from 0° to 90°. The incompressible flow around the train was resolved by utilizing the Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations combined with the SST k-ω turbulence model. The Reynolds number used, based on the height of the train and the freestream velocity, is 3.7 × 105. In the results, it was found that variations of the crosswind flow angles produced different flow regimes. Two unique flow regimes appear, representing (i) slender body flow behaviour at a smaller range of Ψ (i.e. Ψ ≤ 45°) and (ii) bluff body flow behaviour at a higher range of Ψ (i.e. Ψ ≥ 60°). As the geometries of the bridge girder were varied, the bridge with the wedge girder showed the worst aerodynamic properties with both important aerodynamic loads (i.e. side force and rolling moment), followed by the triangular girder and the rectangular girder. This was due to the flow separation on the windward side and flow structure formation on the leeward side, both of which are majorly influenced by the flow that moved from the top and below of the bridge structures.

Theoretical Study of Vibrocentrifugal Separation of Grain Mixtures on a Sieveless Seed-cleaning Machine

The article presents an analysis of known developments on creation of sieve-less pneumatic vibration centrifuges separating devices and processes of separating seed mixtures into fractions according to the complex of physical and mechanical properties of components. Mechanistic and mathematical models for studying the movement of particles over the sieve-free surface of pneumatic vibration separators were developed, theoretical studies of movement of seed mixture components were conducted and the most acceptable pneumatic vibration centrifugation process was determined by likeness to the process occurring on the separating surface of pneumatic sorting tables. To achieve the greatest separation of particles on the complex of their physical and mechanical properties (density, geometric dimensions, aerodynamic properties of seeds) is possible with the same direction of oscillatory motion and rotation of the separating surface performing the rotation in the direction from a larger radius to a smaller radius of the surface, in the “fluidization” mode, i. e. i.e. with periodic separation of the lower particles of the layer from the separating surface at simultaneous blowing of the layer by an air stream.

Separation of switchgrass seeds by aerodynamic properties as a way of quality improvement

The article presents the research results on the effect of seed separation (by aerodynamic properties) regime on germination energy and germination in order to reduce the biological dormancy of seeds and significantly improve the quality. Methods. Laboratory, measuring and weighing, mathematical and statistical. Results. With speed increasing in the aspiration column channel from 2.5 to 5.2 m/sec there was a slight change in the 1000-seed weight. There was not dependency in increase in the 1000-seed weight along with increasing air velocity. Thus, if in the control the 1000-seed weight was 1.65 g, then at the maximum 5.2 m/sec air velocity in the aspiration channel it was 1.68 g (SSD0.05 = 0.10 g). Germination energy and seed germination significantly increased in all separation modes except for the mode with 2.50 m/sec air velocity in the aspiration channel. The 1000-seed weight that fell into the waste naturally increased with increasing air velocity in the aspiration channel from 0.15 g to 0.40 g, and germination energy and seed similarity were at the level of 0−1%. Increasing the air speed to 7.87 m/sec provided a significant increase in seed germination energy and germination compared to the control and sorting of seeds at an air speed of 5.6 m/sec and 7.49 m/sec, and waste losses in waste increased by 28.0%. Conclusions. Separation of switchgrass seeds of different years of vegetation, collected from panicles of different tiers and maturation dates provided a significant increase in its germination energy and germination and can be introduced into production but it does not completely solve the problem of reducing the biological dormancy of seeds.

Seed Micromorphology, In Vitro Germination, and Early-Stage Seedling Morphological Traits of Cattleya purpurata (Lindl. & Paxton) Van den Berg

In the context of a symbiotic plant-fungus interaction study concerning Cattleya purpurata, we focused on some aspects of seed morphology and biology, and the early stages of seedling development. Seed morphology was characterized using light and scanning electron microscopy. In vitro seed germination capability was evaluated, comparing symbiotic and asymbiotic methods. The morphology of the seeds was overall comparable to that of other congeneric species, showing classical adaptations related to the aerodynamic properties and to the wettability of seeds, but calcium oxalate druses were identified inside the suspensor cells. Asymbiotic seed germination was successful in all tested media (17.1–46.5%) but was higher on 1/2 Murashige & Skoog. During symbiotic interaction with the fungal strain MUT4178 (Tulasnella calospora), germination rate was significantly lower than that obtained with the best three asymbiotic media, suggesting a low fungal compatibility. Seedling morphology was in line with other taxa from the same genus, showing typical characteristics of epiphytic species. Our observations, in particular, highlighted the presence of stomata with C-shaped guard cells in the leaves, rarely found in Cattleyas (where usually they are reniform), and confirm the presence of tilosomes in the roots. Idioblasts containing raphides were observed in both roots and leaves.