This research programme explores, theoretically and experimentally, a new liftsystem for Vertical/Short Take-off and Landing (V/STOL) Aircraft. It is based upon an annular wing wrapped around a centrifugal flow generator, potentially creating a vehicle with no external moving parts, reduced vehicle aerodynamic losses compared to previous V/STOL technologies and substantially eliminating induced drag. It is shown that such a wing works best with a thick aerofoil section, and appears to offer greatest potential at a micro-aerial vehicle scale with regard to fundamental performance parameter “lift to weight ratio”. Certain efficiency losses are encountered mainly occurring from annular flow expansion and problems with achieving acceptable blower slot heights. Experimental methods are described along with results, and a comparison shows that the experimental values remain below theoretical values, partly due to flow asymmetry but possibly also other factors. Symmetrical blowing, as initially hypothesised, was found to be impracticable; this suggested use of pure upper surface blowing with Coanda effect. The modified approach was further explored and proved viable. The ultimate goal of this work was to develop an understanding and the facility to integrate the annular-wing into a vehicle to achieve controlled powered flight. To serve the purpose, issues encountered on current and past V/STOL aircraft are being investigated to set a path for further research/development and to validate/justify the design of future V/STOL aircraft. Also, presented is a feasibility study where different physical scales and propulsion systems are considered, and a turbofan has shown to achieve the best performance in terms of Range and Endurance. This privilege allows one to accurately study the V/STOL technologies around.

This thesis covers the field of vortex-flow dominated external aerodynamics. As part of the contribution to the AVT-113 task group it was possible to prove the feasibility of high Reynolds number CFD computations to resolve and thus better understand the peculiar dual vortex system encountered on the VFE-2 blunt leading edge delta wing at low to moderate incidences. Initial investigations into this phenomenon seemed to undermine the hypothesis, that the formation of the inner vortex system depends on the laminar/turbulent state of the boundary layer at separation onset. As a result of this research, the initial hypothesis had to be expanded to account also for high Reynolds number cases, where a laminar boundary layer at separation onset can be excluded. In addition, unsteady transonic computations are used to shed light on a highly non-linear phenomenon encountered at high angles of incidence. At certain conditions, the increase of the incidence by a single degree leads to a sudden movement of the vortex breakdown location from the trailing edge to mid-chord. The lessons learned from the contribution to the VFE-2 facet are furthermore used to prove the technology readiness level of the tools within the second facet of AVT-113, the Cranked Arrow Wing Aerodynamics Project International (CAWAPI). The platform for this investigation, the F-16XL aircraft, experiences at high transonic speeds and low incidence a complex interaction between the leading edge vortex and a strong, mid-chord shock wave. A synergetic effect of VFE-2 with a further project, the Environmentally friendly High Speed Aircraft (HISAC), is also presented in this thesis. Reynolds number dependence is documented in respect to leading edge vortex formation of the wing planform for a reference HISAC configuration. Furthermore, proof is found for a similar dual vortex system as for the VFE-2 blunt leading edge configuration. / QC 20100713

<p>This dissertation explores the aeroelastic stability of a folding wing using both theoretical and experimental methods. The theoretical model is based on the existing clamped-wing aeroelastic model that uses beam theory structural dynamics and strip theory aerodynamics. A higher-fidelity theoretical model was created by adding several improvements to the existing model, namely a structural model that uses ANSYS for individual wing segment modes and an unsteady vortex lattice aerodynamic model. The comparison with the lower-fidelity model shows that the higher-fidelity model typical provides better agreement between theory and experiment, but the predicted system behavior in general does not change, reinforcing the effectiveness of the low-fidelity model for preliminary design of folding wings. The present work also conducted more detailed aeroelastic analyses of three-segment folding wings, and in particular considers the Lockheed-type configurations to understand the existence of sudden changes in predicted aeroelastic behavior with varying fold angle for certain configurations. These phenomena were observed in carefully conducted experiments, and nonlinearities - structural and geometry - were shown to suppress the phenomena. Next, new experimental models with better manufacturing tolerances are designed to be tested in the Duke University Wind Tunnel. The testing focused on various configurations of three-segment folding wings in order to obtain higher quality data. Next, the theoretical model was further improved by adding aircraft longitudinal degrees of freedom such that the aeroelastic model may predict the instabilities for the entire aircraft and not just a clamped wing. The theoretical results show that the flutter instabilities typically occur at a higher air speed due to greater frequency separation between modes for the aircraft system than a clamped wing system, but the divergence instabilities occur at a lower air speed. Lastly, additional experimental models were designed such that the wing segments may be rotated while the system is in the wind tunnel. The fold angles were changed during wind tunnel testing, and new test data on wing response during those transients were collected during these experiments.</p> / Dissertation

Nowadays the aviation industry is playing an important role in our daily life, since is the main medium that satisfies the present human needs to reach long distances in the fastest way. But such benefit doesn’t come free of collateral consequences. It is estimated that each year, only the air transport industry produces 628 mega tonnes of CO2. Therefore, urgently actions need to be implemented considering that the current commercial fleet will be doubled by 2050. The research field for more efficient aircraft systems is a very constructive field; where novel ideas can be exploited towards the mitigation of the coming air transport development. In this research the configuration of the Environmental Control System (ECS) has been analysed aiming to reduce its energy consumption for both, fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft. This goal is expected to be achieved mainly through the replacement of the main source of power that supplies the ECS, from pneumatic to electric. Differently from the conventional ECS, a new electric-source technology is integrated in the system configuration to compare its effects on the energy consumption. This new technology doesn’t bleed air directly from the engines; instead of that, it takes the air directly from the atmosphere through the implementation of an electric compressor. This new technology has been implemented by Boeing in one of its most recent airplanes, the B787. Towards achieving the main goal, a framework integrated with five steps has been designed. An algorithmic analysis is integrated on the framework. The first step meets the required aircraft characteristics for the analysis. The second step is in charge of meeting the mission profile characteristics where the overall analysis will be carried out. The third step assesses the conventional ECS penalties. The fourth step carries out a complex analysis for the proposed electric ECS model, from its design up to its penalties assessment. The fifth step compares the analysis results for both, the conventional and the electric models. The fourth step of the framework, which analyses the electric ECS, is considered the most critic one; therefore is divided in three main tasks. Firstly, a small parametric study is done to select an optimum configuration. This task is carried out towards meeting the ECS air conditioning requirements of a selected aircraft. Secondly, the cabin temperature and pressurization are simulated to analyse the response of the configured electric ECS for a mission profile. And finally, the fuel penalties are assessed in terms of system weight, drag and fuel due power-off take. To achieve the framework results, a model which receives the name ELENA has been created using the tool Simulink®. This model contains 5 interconnected modules; each one reads a series of inputs to perform calculations and exchange information with other modules.

Flying-wing aircraft are considered to have great advantages and potentials in aerodynamic performance and weight saving. However, they also have many challenges in design. One of the biggest challenges is the structural design of the inner wing (fuselage). Unlike the conventional fuselage of a tube configuration, the flying-wing aircraft inner wing cross section is limited to a noncircular shape, which is not structurally efficient to resist the internal pressure load. In order to solve this problem, a number of configurations have been proposed by other designers such as Multi Bubble Fuselage (MBF), Vaulted Ribbed Shell (VLRS), Flat Ribbed Shell (FRS), Vaulted Shell Honeycomb Core (VLHC), Flat Sandwich Shell Honeycomb Core (FLHC), Y Braced Box Fuselage and the modified fuselage designed with Y brace replaced by vaulted shell configurations. However all these configurations still inevitably have structural weight penalty compared with optimal tube fuselage layout. This current study intends to focus on finding an optimal configuration with minimum structural weight penalty for a flying-wing concept in a preliminary design stage. A new possible inner wing configuration, in terms of aerodynamic shape and structural layout, was proposed by the author, and it might be referred as ‘Wave-Section Configuration’. The methodologies of how to obtain a structurally efficient curvature of the shape, as well as how to conduct the initial sizing were incorporated. A theoretical analysis of load transmission indicated that the Wave-Section Configuration is feasible, and this was further proved as being practical by FE analysis. Moreover, initial FE analysis and comparison of the Wave-Section Configuration with two other typical configurations, Multi Bubble Fuselage and Conventional Wing, suggested that the Wave-Section Configuration is an optimal design in terms of weight saving. However, due to limitations of the author’s research area, influences on aerodynamic performances have not yet been taken into account.

This study presents a camber morphing concept as an alternative to existing plain flap or aileron type hinged control surfaces used in wings. Structural aspects of the concept are investigated with static nonlinear finite element analyses by using MSC Nastran. In order to assess the aerodynamic characteristics / CFD based 2D solutions are obtained using ANSYS Fluent. The camber morphing concept is applied to the full scale hingeless control surface and implemented in the adaptive camber wing. Hingeless control surfaces and adaptive camber wing are manufactured and changes made in manufacture stages are incorporated into finite element models. Finite element analyses of the wing are conducted with static and dynamic loading and comparison with experimental dynamic analyses are performed.

Use of an inflatable/rigidizable wing is explored for Mars airplane designs. The BIG BLUE (Baseline Inflatable-wing Glider Balloon Launched Unmanned airplane Experiment) project was developed at the University of Kentucky, with an objective to demonstrate feasibility of this technology with a flight-test of an high-altitude glider with inflatable/rigidizable wings. The focus of this thesis research was to design and analyze the wing for this project. The wings are stowed in the fuselage, inflate during ascent, and rigidize with exposure to UV light. The design of wings was evaluated by using aerodynamic and finite element software and wind tunnel testing. The profile is chosen based upon aerodynamic results and consideration of manufacturability of the inflatable wing structures. Flow over prototypes of inflatable/rigidizable and ideal shaped wings were also examined in the wind tunnel. Flow visualization, lift and drag measurements, and wake survey testing methods were performed. Results from the wind tunnel testing are presented along with suggestions in improving the inflatable/rigidizable wings aerodynamic efficiency and use on a low Reynolds number platform. In addition, high altitude wing deployment tests and low altitude flight tests of the inflatable/rigidizable wing were conducted.

A three dimensional wing design tool with analysis functions has been developed with embedded Euler/Navier-Stokes flow solver and a three dimensional hyperbolic grid generator. A graphical user interface has been constructed using PYTHON script language and the tool was enhanced with pre-processing and post-processing capabilities. Analysis and design procedures are demonstrated with automatic grid generation, automatic series solution and automatic graphs and reports generation.

Thesis (M. A.), Memorial University of Newfoundland, 1998. / Bibliography: leaves 99-106.

This paper concerns the question how the Norrbottnic railway navvy has been used inNorrbottnic newspapers in order to deal with contemporary issues of a political and economicnature. The time period covered is 1951-2004 and 36 newspaper articles have been used. Thepaper shows that there is no obvious connection between the newspapers political affiliationand the components from the navvies lives one otherwise would expect the newspaper topresent. Ideological use of history is not always present. There are other uses of history to, inthe articles. On the other hand the results of this investigation shows all newspapers wants topreserve the navvies accomplishments for later generations. There is no clear connectionbetween a decision to preserve and important events in the surrounding contemporary society.A commitment to preserve is taken independently of important contemporary events.