Title: Study of a flexible UAV proprotor

Authors: Fazila Mohd-Zawawi; Peng Lv; Sebastien Prothin; Joseph Morlier; Jean-Marc Moschetta; Emmanuel Benard

Addresses: Département Aérodynamique, Energétique et Propulsion (DAEP), Institut Supérieur de l'Aéronautique et de l'Espace, Toulouse 31000, France ' Département Aérodynamique, Energétique et Propulsion (DAEP), Institut Supérieur de l'Aéronautique et de l'Espace, Toulouse 31000, France ' Département Aérodynamique, Energétique et Propulsion (DAEP), Institut Supérieur de l'Aéronautique et de l'Espace, Toulouse 31000, France ' ICA, ISAE/INSA/UPS/ENSTIMAC, Université de Toulouse, 10 av. Edouard Belin, BP 54032 – 31055 Toulouse Cedex 4, France ' Département Aérodynamique, Energétique et Propulsion (DAEP), Institut Supérieur de l'Aéronautique et de l'Espace, Toulouse 31000, France ' Département Aérodynamique, Energétique et Propulsion (DAEP), Institut Supérieur de l'Aéronautique et de l'Espace, Toulouse 31000, France

Abstract: This paper is concerned with the evaluation of design techniques, both for the propulsive performance and for the structural behaviour of a composite flexible proprotor. A numerical model was developed using a combination of aerodynamic model based on blade element momentum theory (BEMT), and structural model based on anisotropic beam finite element, in order to evaluate the coupled structural and the aerodynamic characteristics of the deformable proprotor blade. The numerical model was then validated by means of static performance measurements and shape reconstruction from laser distance sensor outputs. From the validation results of both aerodynamic and structural model, it can be concluded that the numerical approach developed by the authors is valid as a reliable tool for designing and analysing the UAV-sized proprotor made of composite material. The proposed experiment technique is also capable of providing a predictive and reliable data in blade geometry and performance for rotor modes.

Keywords: convertible aircraft; fluid structure interaction; FSI; micro air vehicles; MAVs; flexible proprotors; low Reynolds number; blade element momentum theory; BEMT; rotating coupled Timoshenko beam; anisotropic finite elements; finite element analysis; FEA; laser distance sensors; aerodynamic modelling.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESMS.2014.063125

International Journal of Engineering Systems Modelling and Simulation, 2014 Vol.6 No.3/4, pp.149 - 161

Published online: 26 Jul 2014 *

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