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Numerical and Parametric Study of MVGs on a UAV Geometry in Subsonic Flow

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Computational Methods and Models for Transport (ECCOMAS 2015)

Part of the book series: Computational Methods in Applied Sciences ((COMPUTMETHODS,volume 45))

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Abstract

This work details how numerical methods can be employed to determine the optimal arrangement of multiple micro vortex generators (MVG) installed on a UAV wing with its flaps deflected/deployed. For very little cost, the use of MVGs can substantially improve the aerodynamic performance of the UAV by increasing the lift and reducing the drag, particularly during critical phases of the flight (takeoff and landing). The optimal position, related to the detachment zone, and height, related to the boundary layer, of a vortex generator is studied numerically by solving the three dimensional Navier-Stokes equations in a simplified configuration. The numerical study includes a reference baseline configuration. A parametric study is then performed to determine, which configuration gives the maximum gain—highest lift/drag ratio. A preliminary numerical study of convergence for different grids to ensure convergency of the solutions is included. Finally, considering these results, a selection of the optimal configurations based on the aerodynamic performance and the manufacturing limitations.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by European Comission through the NNATAC GA 324298 project. And the computer resources, technical expertise and assistance provided by the Supercomputing and Visualization Center of Madrid.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Aeronautics, Universidad Politecnica de Madrid, Plaza Cardenal Cisneros 3, 28040, Madrid, Spain

    Miguel Chavez

  2. ETSIA-UPM (School of Aeronautics), Universidad Politecnica de Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain

    Silvia Sanvido, Oliver M. F. Browne & Eusebio Valero

Authors
  1. Miguel Chavez
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  2. Silvia Sanvido
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  3. Oliver M. F. Browne
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  4. Eusebio Valero
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Miguel Chavez .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. CIMNE, International Center for Numerical Methods in Engineering, Barcelona, Spain

    Pedro Diez

  2. Department of Mathematical Information Technology, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland

    Pekka Neittaanmäki

  3. Department of Mathematical Information Technology, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland

    Jacques Periaux

  4. Department of Mathematical Information Technology, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland

    Tero Tuovinen

  5. Department of Mathematical Information Technology, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland

    Olli Bräysy

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Chavez, M., Sanvido, S., Browne, O.M.F., Valero, E. (2018). Numerical and Parametric Study of MVGs on a UAV Geometry in Subsonic Flow. In: Diez, P., Neittaanmäki, P., Periaux, J., Tuovinen, T., Bräysy, O. (eds) Computational Methods and Models for Transport. ECCOMAS 2015. Computational Methods in Applied Sciences, vol 45. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-54490-8_13

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-54490-8_13

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-54489-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-54490-8

  • eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)

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