Numerical analysis of aerodynamic characteristics for the design of a small ducted fan aircraft

Zhengjie Wang*, Li Chen, Shijun Guo

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

9 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This article presents a study on the flow field and aerodynamic characteristics of the propellers and rudders for the design of a small ducted fan aircraft. In the analysis, an equivalent actuation disk was created as a simplified model of the propellers. A momentum source is determined by equivalent actuation disk numerical simulation using ANSYS CFX software based on vortex theory. In addition, the momentum source distribution function for the equivalent actuation disk model is improved by using experimental data. The computational fluid dynamics method in the ANSYS CFX software is then used to simulate the flow field of the propellers slipstream and determine the key aerodynamic and design parameters for the built-up rudders of the aircraft. The improved equivalent actuation disk method is validated by using the mixing plane method and their results show a good comparison. The simulation and analysis results provide the basis for optimal design of the built-up rudder arrangement and layout for a small ducted fan aircraft.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1556-1570
Number of pages15
JournalProceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part G: Journal of Aerospace Engineering
Volume227
Issue number10
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2013

Keywords

  • Built-up rudders
  • Computational fluid dynamics
  • Equivalent actuation disk
  • Momentum source
  • Small ducted fan aircraft

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