Quasi-3D Aerodynamic Analysis Method for Blended-Wing-Body UAV Configurations

Pericles Panagiotou, Thomas Dimopoulos, Stylianos Dimitriou, Kyros Yakinthos
2021 Aerospace (Basel)  
The current study presents a low-fidelity, quasi-3D aerodynamic analysis method for Blended-Wing-Body (BWB) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) configurations. A tactical BWB UAV experimental prototype is used as a reference platform. The method utilizes 2D panel method analyses and theoretical aerodynamic calculations to rapidly compute lift and pitching moment coefficients. The philosophy and the underlying theoretical and semi-empirical equations of the proposed method are extensively described.
more » ... rrections related to control surfaces deflection and ground effect are also suggested, so that the BWB pitching stability and trimming calculations can be supported. The method is validated against low-fidelity 3D aerodynamic analysis methods and high-fidelity, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) results for various BWB configurations. The validation procedures show that the proposed method is considerably more accurate than existing low-fidelity ones, can provide predictions for both lift and pitching moment coefficients and requires far less computational resources and time when compared to CFD modeling. Hence, it can serve as a valuable aerodynamics and stability analysis tool for BWB UAV configurations.
doi:10.3390/aerospace8010013 fatcat:ealiv4vfezf2vfyxef323om274