Kinematically consistent unsteady aerodynamic coefficients in supersonic flow

A finite element method to determine unsteady aerodynamic influence coefficients, consistent with the stiffness and inertia properties of a lifting surface in supersonic flow, is described. This is basically a kinematic method, which reduces the dynamical equations of a non-conservative system to a simple and elegant form. It is illustrated by application to a delta wing using triangular elements to calculate steady and unsteady lift and moment coefficients. Throughout the calculations only a coarse grid system has been employed and the answers have been compared with available results.     

Calculation of flutter and dynamic behavior of advanced composite swept wings with tapered cross section in unsteady incompressible flow

In this study, the aeroelastic stability and response of a swept composite wing in subsonic incompressible flow are investigated. The wing is modeled as an anisotropic tapered thin-walled beam with the circumferentially asymmetric stiffness structural configuration to establish proper coupling between bending and torsion. The structural model considers a number of nonclassical effects, such as transverse shear, material anisotropy, warping inhibition, nonuniform torsion, rotary inertia and three-dimensional strain effects. The aerodynamic strip method based on two-dimensional Wagner function in unsteady incompressible flow is used. Following the analysis, the mass, stiffness and the damping matrices of the nonconservative aeroelastic system are formed such that the extended Galerkin method and the separation of variables method can be employed. As a result, the coupled and linear governing system of dynamic equations is obtained. Then, by transforming matrices into the state-space and state-vector forms, the problem under study is finally converted into an eigenvalue problem. The flutter and the divergence speeds for various layer configurations with different geometric and material properties and fiber orientations are obtained. By solving the aforementioned equations of motion in the time domain, the aeroelastic responses of the tapered swept composite wing are computed. The obtained results are compared with the available literature.     

Effect of flapping kinematics on aerodynamic force of a flapping two-dimensional flat plate

Potential applications of flapping-wing micro-aerial vehicles (MAVs) have prompted enthusiasm among the engineers and researchers to understand the flow physics associated with flapping flight. An incompressible Navier–Stokes solver that is capable of handling flapping flight kind of moving boundary problem is developed. Arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian (ALE) method is used to handle the moving boundaries of the problem. The solver is validated with the results of problems like inline oscillation of a circular cylinder in still fluid and a flat plate rapidly accelerating at constant angle of attack. Numerical simulations of flapping flat plate mimicking the kinematics of those like insect wings are simulated, and the unsteady fluid dynamic phenomena that enhance the aerodynamic force are studied. The solution methodology provides the velocity field and pressure field details, which are used to derive the force coefficients and the vorticity field. Time history of force coefficients and vortical structures gives insight into the unsteady mechanism associated with the unsteady aerodynamic force production. The scope of the work is to develop a computational fluid dynamic (CFD) solver with the ALE method that is capable of handling moving boundary problems, and to understand the flow physics associated with the flapping-wing aerofoil kinematics and flow parameters on aerodynamic forces. Results show that delayed stall, wing–wake interaction and rotational effect are the important unsteady mechanisms that enhance the aerodynamic forces. Major contribution to the lift force is due to the presence of leading edge vortex in delayed stall mechanism.     

扑翼飞行器气动力测量技术研究进展与展望

扑翼飞行器是一种仿照鸟类飞行的新概念小型无人飞行器,区别于传统固定翼和旋翼飞行器,它主要通过机翼扑动与空气相互作用来提供飞行动力,从而实现飞行器的姿态变动。扑翼飞行器气动特性测试的实质是揭示在非定常流场环境下,扑翼飞行器气动力的产生机制,以及相关扑翼飞行器设计参数对气动特性的影响。通过气动试验方法为扑翼飞行器飞行控制和结构优化等研制工作提供数据支持,将对新型扑翼飞行器理论研究以及飞控品质的提升起到巨大的推动作用。     

State-space aerodynamic model reveals high force control authority and predictability in flapping flight

Flying animals resort to fast, large-degree-of-freedom motion of flapping wings, a key feature that distinguishes them from rotary or fixed-winged robotic fliers with limited motion of aerodynamic surfaces. However, flapping-wing aerodynamics are characterized by highly unsteady and three-dimensional flows difficult to model or control, and accurate aerodynamic force predictions often rely on expensive computational or experimental methods. Here, we developed a computationally efficient and data-driven state-space model to dynamically map wing kinematics to aerodynamic forces/moments. This model was trained and tested with a total of 548 different flapping-wing motions and surpassed the accuracy and generality of the existing quasi-steady models. This model used 12 states to capture the unsteady and nonlinear fluid effects pertinent to force generation without explicit information of fluid flows. We also provided a comprehensive assessment of the control authority of key wing kinematic variables and found that instantaneous aerodynamic forces/moments were largely predictable by the wing motion history within a half-stroke cycle. Furthermore, the angle of attack, normal acceleration and pitching motion had the strongest effects on the aerodynamic force/moment generation. Our results show that flapping flight inherently offers high force control authority and predictability, which can be key to developing agile and stable aerial fliers.     

Analytical model for instantaneous lift and shape deformation of an insect-scale flapping wing in hover

In the analysis of flexible flapping wings of insects, the aerodynamic outcome depends on the combined structural dynamics and unsteady fluid physics. Because the wing shape and hence the resulting effective angle of attack are a priori unknown, predicting aerodynamic performance is challenging. Here, we show that a coupled aerodynamics/structural dynamics model can be established for hovering, based on a linear beam equation with the Morison equation to account for both added mass and aerodynamic damping effects. Lift strongly depends on the instantaneous angle of attack, resulting from passive pitch associated with wing deformation. We show that both instantaneous wing deformation and lift can be predicted in a much simplified framework. Moreover, our analysis suggests that resulting wing kinematics can be explained by the interplay between acceleration-related and aerodynamic damping forces. Interestingly, while both forces combine to create a high angle of attack resulting in high lift around the midstroke, they offset each other for phase control at the end of the stroke.     

Aerodynamic properties of a wing performing unsteady rotational motions at low Reynolds number

Summary The aerodynamic forces and flow structures of a wing of relatively small aspect ratio in some unsteady rotational motions at low Reynolds number (Re=100) are studied by numerically solving the Navier-Stokes equations. These motions include a wing in constant-speed rotation after a fast start, wing accelerating and decelerating from one rotational speed to another, and wing rapidly pitching-up in constant speed rotation. When a wing performs a constant-speed rotation at small Reynolds number after started from rest at large angle of attack (=35°), a large lift coefficient can be maintained. The mechanism for the large lift coefficient is that for a rotating wing: the variation of the relative velocity along the wing-span causes a pressure gradient and hence a spanwise flow which can prevent the dynamic stall vortex from shedding. When a wing is rapidly accelerating or decelerating from one rotational speed to another, or rapidly pitching-up during constant speed rotation, even if the aspect ratio of the wing is small and the flow Reynolds number is low, a large aerodynamic force can be obtained. During these rapid unsteady motions, new layers of strong vorticity are formed near the wing surfaces in very short time, resulting in a large time rate of change of the fluid impulse which is responsible for the generation of the large aerodynamic force.     

柔性扑翼气动性能的数值研究

国内外对扑翼飞行的气动特性进行了大量研究,这些研究大多基于简谐扑动的刚性翼,然而大量观察发现鸟或昆虫飞行时,翅膀存在明显的柔性变形,这种变形对其气动性能具有显著的影响。该文针对一简化的二维柔性扑翼模型,采用数值求解N-S方程并耦合扑翼柔性变形方程的计算方法,研究了扑翼柔性变形对其气动性能的影响。结果显示扑翼的柔性变形改变了扑翼周围的涡结构,从而影响扑翼的气动性能;适当的柔性变形能延迟前缘涡的脱落,从而有效地改善扑翼的推进效率,但同时减弱了扑翼在低雷诺数环境中产生高升力的尾迹捕捉机制。     

Eigenanalysis and reduced-order modelling of unsteady partial cavity flows using the boundary element method

This paper presents an efficient reduced-order modelling approach to predict unsteady behaviour of partial cavity flows (PCROM). The boundary element method (BEM) along with the potential flow is used to analyze unsteady partial cavity flows. Partial cavity flow is modelled based on a new non-iterative approach and the PCROM is based on fluid eigenmodes. To construct fluid eigenmodes the spatial iterative scheme to find cavity extent is removed. The eigenvalue problem of the unsteady flows is defined based on the unknown wake singularities. Eigenanalysis and reduced-order modelling of unsteady flows over a NACA 16-006 section are performed using the PCROM. Numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the accuracy of the proposed method. Comparison between the obtained results of the proposed method and those of other and conventional method indicates that the present algorithm works well with sufficient accuracy. Moreover, it is shown that the PCROM is computationally more efficient than the conventional one for unsteady sheet cavitations analysis on hydrofoils.     

基于iDDES的双三角翼大迎角非定常涡破裂特征分析

采用基于两方程k-ω-SST模型的iDDES方法对80°/65°双三角翼涡破裂流动进行了数值模拟,获得了迎角α=30°~40°范围内,涡破裂在双三角翼主翼面上方发生时的气动力、表面压力、空间涡结构、湍动能等流动信息,在与风洞实验充分比对的基础上,详细分析了涡破裂发生时的涡破裂形态,表面压力均方根值分布,非定常气动力、表面压力脉动等流动特征,对涡破裂与气动力频谱、表面压力/压力脉动、空间速度、湍动能分布之间的相互关系进行了阐述,并分析了以这些流动信息为判据得到的涡破裂位置之间的相关性。     

Influence of the wake model on the thrust of oscillating foil

Trust generation by flapping wing is a complex fluid phenomenon involving unsteady effects. The work discusses a Boundary Element Method (BEM) based computer model for the analysis of hydrodynamic forces on flapping foil. The specific focus is on the wake model and its effects on the generated thrust. An unsteady formulation of the Kutta condition, assuming finite pressure difference at the trailing edge of the moving foil, was implemented in the numerical procedure to account for the shedding of trailing-edge vortical structures. It is shown that the numerical results depend strongly on the choice of the wake model, especially at large oscillation frequencies. However, the model of the thrust-producing jet (due to the trailing-edge pressure differences) predicts accurately the thrust trend as a function of the oscillation frequency. In other words, the numerical results show the need of experimental data in order to choose the appropriate wake model. An experimental validation of the numerical method is proposed on the basis of recent experimental results that clearly show the time lag between the foil vertical acceleration and generated thrust as predicted by the model. This proves the point that the unsteady BEM approach to these problems is physically sound.     

Flutter boundary prediction of an adaptive morphing wing for unmanned aerial vehicle

We have developed a novel morphing wing design for UAV that makes use of shape memory alloys as actuators. The advantages of the novel design have already been addressed in earlier publications by Meguid and his collaborators. Because of the flexibility of the wing, it is highly desirable to investigate flutter instability. This study addresses flutter instability for our novel morphing wing at low speed considering different morphing wing configurations. Structural dynamics of the wing is obtained using lumped mass method and unsteady aerodynamic based on strip model is used to evaluate the aerodynamic forces and moments. Flutter boundary was predicted using p-k method. The results indicate that the newly designed flexible concept of the morphing wing increases the critical flutter velocity.     

Two‐dimensional transonic aeroservoelastic computations in the time domain

A computational method to perform transonic aeroelastic and aeroservoelastic calculations in the time domain is presented, and used to predict stability (flutter) boundaries of 2‐D wing sections. The aerodynamic model is a cell‐centred finite‐volume unsteady Euler solver, which uses an efficient implicit time‐stepping scheme and structured moving grids. The aerodynamic equations are coupled with the structural equations of motion, which are derived from a typical wing section model. A control law is implemented within the aeroelastic solver to investigate active means of flutter suppression via control surface motion. Comparisons of open‐ and closed‐loop calculations show that the control law can successfully suppress the flutter and results in an increase of up to 19 per cent in the allowable speed index. The effect of structural non‐linearity, in the form of hinge axis backlash is also investigated. The effect is found to be strongly destabilizing, but the control law is shown to still alleviate the destabilizing effect. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Ionic Polymer Metal Composite Flapping Actuator Mimicking Dragonflies

In this study, variational principle is used for dynamic modeling of an Ionic Polymer Metal Composite (IPMC) flapping wing. The IPMC is an Electro-active Polymer (EAP) which is emerging as a useful smart material for `artificial muscle' applications. Dynamic characteristics of IPMC flapping wings having the same size as the actual wings of three different dragonfly species Aeshna Multicolor, Anax Parthenope Julius and Sympetrum Frequens are analyzed using numerical simulations. An unsteady aerodynamic model is used to obtain the aerodynamic forces. A comparative study of the performances of three IPMC flapping wings is conducted. Among the three species, it is found that thrust force produced by the IPMC flapping wing of the same size as Anax Parthenope Julius wing is maximum. Lift force produced by the IPMC wing of the same size as Sympetrum Frequens wing is maximum and the wing is suitable for low speed flight. The numerical results in this paper show that dragonfly inspired IPMC flapping wings are a viable contender for insect scale flapping wing micro air vehicles.     

基于非定常气动力降阶的AGARD445.6硬机翼不同迎角颤振研究

以AGARD445.6硬机翼为研究对象,发展了基于计算流体力学与模态叠加的并行流固耦合方法,计算该机翼在不同初始迎角、不同来流速度的气动弹性时域响应,结果表明：初始迎角小于7°时,该机翼颤振速度随着初始迎角增加而降低;初始迎角7°～10°,颤振速度随着迎角增大而增加。在10°迎角条件建立了基于径向基神经网络的非定常气动降阶模型,准确预测不同速度、减缩频率的非定常气动力,并使用时域龙格库塔法和频域VG法预测10°迎角的颤振特性;建立考虑初始迎角输入的非定常气动降阶模型,预测机翼不同初始迎角的颤振特性。基于降阶模型的初始迎角对颤振边界影响的机理分析表明：小迎角时,随着迎角的增加广义力系数幅值比增加,导致颤振速度的下降;迎角大于7°后展向涡改变了机翼表面压强分布,导致一扭广义力系数幅值比降低,从而增加该机翼颤振速度。     

覆冰四分裂导线空气动力系数数值模拟

利用Fluent流体动力学分析软件计算典型覆冰四分裂导线在特定风速下的绕流问题,所得各覆冰子导线空气动力系数随风攻角变化曲线与由风洞试验所得规律一致。基于数值模拟和风洞试验所得气动系数确定的Den Hartog系数与Nigol系数随风攻角的变化结果吻合。利用由数值模拟和风洞试验获所得气动参数,采用Abaqus有限元软件模拟典型线路段的舞动,通过舞动特性分析比较发现,利用该两组气动系数模拟得到的导线舞动特性一致,表明采用数值模拟方法确定覆冰导线的空气动力系数可用于模拟覆冰导线舞动。     

多翼离心风机气动噪声计算与降噪设计研究

以船用空调通风系统中多翼离心式风机为对象,建立风机内部流体三维建模,采用CFD软件进行稳态与非稳态计算.将得到的风机内部流场结果导入LMS Virtual.Lab声学软件中进行噪声预估,同时与实验结果对比,验证风机气动噪声计算的准确性.根据分析得知,风机气动噪声主要噪声源位于叶轮处并且与其内部流场分布和自身结构密切相关...     

一种半隐式的气动弹性时域求解方法

针对结构小幅运动、流动强非线性的气动弹性问题,基于Adams 隐式方法发展了一种半隐式的线性多步法(SILMS)。将隐式的广义气动力项采用显式插值求解,结构项仍采用隐式格式计算,该方法融合了显式方法耦合简单和隐式方法稳定性好的特点。结构运动采用模态坐标描述,流动方程应用计算流体力学(CFD)技术求解,二者采用松耦合方法进行时域推进。算例计算了一个标准气动弹性模型(Isogai wing)的颤振结果,并与几种经典的时域模拟方法进行了比较,证明该方法具有效率高、稳定性好、精度高的优点。     

Wind tunnel study of aerodynamic wind loading on middle pylon of Taizhou Bridge

Wind loading on steel pylon will take majority part of the whole wind loading on bridges. In traditional wind-resistance design, wind loading on pylons is determined according to codes, or by using CFD techniques. In this paper, segment sectional model tests are carried out to investigate the wind loading on middle pylon of Taizhou Bridge, which has complicated three-dimensional flow due to its feature of double columns. Through the force measuring tests, aerodynamic force coefficients of every segment of the pylon columns have been obtained. It is found that the tested aerodynamic force coefficients are much smaller than those given by codes. The interference effects of aerodynamic force coefficients between columns of pylon are discussed. The results show that the interference effect is the most evident when the yaw angle is about 30 º from transverse direction. This kind of interference effect can be described as diminutions in transverse aerodynamic force coefficients and magnifications in longitudinal aerodynamic force coefficients of downstream columns.