Experimental and Numerical Investigations of the Aerodynamics of Flexible Inflatable Wings
| dc.contributor.author | Desai, Siddhant Pratikkumar | en |
| dc.contributor.committeechair | Schetz, Joseph A. | en |
| dc.contributor.committeechair | Kapania, Rakesh K. | en |
| dc.contributor.committeemember | Nam, Taewoo | en |
| dc.contributor.committeemember | Pitt, Jonathan | en |
| dc.contributor.department | Aerospace and Ocean Engineering | en |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2022-06-22T16:29:25Z | en |
| dc.date.available | 2022-06-22T16:29:25Z | en |
| dc.date.issued | 2022-06-22 | en |
| dc.description.abstract | With a look towards the future, which involves a push towards utilizing renewable energy sources and cementing energy independence for future generations, the design of more efficient aircraft and novel energy systems is of utmost importance. This dissertation looks at leveraging some of the benefits offered by inflatable wings for use in tethered kite-like systems towards the goal of designing a High Altitude Aerial Platform (HAAP). Uses of such a system include Airborne Wind Energy Systems (AWES), among others. The key bene- fit offered by such wings is their lightweight construction and durability, but challenges to aerodynamic performance arise out of their flexible nature and non-standard airfoil profile. Studying the aerodynamic behavior of such wings forms the critical focus of this research. This effort primarily encompasses an experimental investigation of two swept, tethered, inflatable wings conducted in the Virginia Tech Stability Wind Tunnel, and numerical CFD computations of these wings. The experiment was conducted in the modular wall configuration of the anechoic test section at speeds ranging from 15 − 32.5 m/s for three different tether attachment configurations and wings constructed out of two different fabric materials. Along with static aeroelastic deformation data using a 3D photogrammetry system, aerodynamic measurements were taken in the form of Pitot and static pressure measurements in the wake of the wing, force and moment measurements at the base of the mount, and tension measurements at the tether attachment locations. This provides a data set for validating static aeroelastic modeling approaches for such a system and highlights the dramatic effect of the variability in test configuration on the wing's aerodynamics. In addition to the wind tunnel tests, 3D steady RANS CFD computations of the rigid 3D scanned inflatable wing geometry were conducted in the wind tunnel environment for these configurations to validate the CFD modeling approach and highlight the level of detail necessary to accurately characterize the wing aerodynamic performance. Static aeroelastic deformation data from the 3D photogrammetry system, at a speed of 27.5 m/s, were also used to deform the 3D scanned inflatable wing geometry, and RANS CFD computations of this deformed inflatable wing were conducted at a wind tunnel speed of 27.5 m/s. Several turbulence models were investigated and comparisons were made with the wind tunnel test data. Good agreement was found with experimental data for the forces and moments and wake Pitot pressure coefficient contours. Comparisons were also made with the rigid wing CFD computations at the same tunnel speed of 27.5 m/s to illustrate the effect of static aeroelastic deformations on the aerodynamic performance, wake Pitot pressure coefficient contours and wing-tip vortex structures, of these flexible inflated wings. In effect, this research utilizes the synergy be- tween wind tunnel experiments and numerical CFD computations to study the flow behavior over inflatable wings and provide a comprehensive verification and validation approach for modeling such complex systems. | en |
| dc.description.abstractgeneral | With a look towards the future, which involves a push towards utilizing renewable energy sources and cementing energy independence for future generations, the design of more efficient aircraft and novel energy systems is of utmost importance. This dissertation looks at leveraging some of the benefits offered by inflatable wings for use in tethered kite-like systems towards the goal of designing a High Altitude Aerial Platform (HAAP). Uses of such a system include Airborne Wind Energy Systems (AWES), among others. The key benefit offered by such wings is their lightweight construction and durability, but challenges to aerodynamic performance arise out of their flexible nature and non-standard airfoil profile. Studying the aerodynamic behavior of such wings forms the critical focus of this research. This effort primarily encompasses an experimental investigation of two swept, tethered, inflatable wings conducted in the Virginia Tech Stability Wind Tunnel, and computer simulations of the aerodynamic flow over these wings. The experiment was conducted in the modular wall configuration of the anechoic test section at speeds ranging from 15 − 32.5 m/s for three different tether attachment configurations and wings constructed out of two different fabric materials. Along with measurements of the wing deformations using a 3D photogrammetry system, aerodynamic measurements were taken in the form of pressure measurements in the wake of the wing, force and moment measurements at the base of the mount, and tension measurements at the tether attachment locations. This provides a data set for validating static aeroelastic modeling approaches for such a system and highlights the dramatic effect of the variability in test configuration on the wing's aerodynamics. In addition to the wind tunnel tests, detailed computer simulations of the scanned inflatable wing geometry were conducted in the wind tunnel environment for these configurations to validate the computational modeling approach and highlight the level of detail necessary to accurately characterize the wing aerodynamic performance. The wing deformation data from the 3D photogrammetry system, at a speed of 27.5 m/s, were also used to deform the scanned inflatable wing geometry, and computer simulations of this deformed inflatable wing geometry were conducted at a wind tunnel speed of 27.5 m/s. Good agreement was found between the experimental and computational forces and moments and wake Pitot pressure coefficient contours. Comparisons were also made with the undeformed wing computations at the same tunnel speed of 27.5 m/s to illustrate the effect of wing flexibility on the aerodynamic performance. In effect, this research utilizes the synergy between wind tunnel experiments and numerical CFD computations to study the flow behavior over inflatable wings and provide a comprehensive verification and validation approach for modeling such complex systems. | en |
| dc.description.degree | Doctor of Philosophy | en |
| dc.format.medium | ETD | en |
| dc.identifier.other | vt_gsexam:35117 | en |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10919/110869 | en |
| dc.language.iso | en | en |
| dc.publisher | Virginia Tech | en |
| dc.rights | In Copyright | en |
| dc.rights.uri | http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ | en |
| dc.subject | Inflatable Wings | en |
| dc.subject | Applied Aerodynamics | en |
| dc.subject | Wind Tunnel Testing | en |
| dc.subject | RANS CFD | en |
| dc.title | Experimental and Numerical Investigations of the Aerodynamics of Flexible Inflatable Wings | en |
| dc.type | Dissertation | en |
| thesis.degree.discipline | Aerospace Engineering | en |
| thesis.degree.grantor | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | en |
| thesis.degree.level | doctoral | en |
| thesis.degree.name | Doctor of Philosophy | en |
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