Este trabalho tem por objetivo analisar o comportamento aerodinâmico de dispositivos de ponta de asa e Fences acoplados em uma aeronave Blended Wing Body (BWB) através de testes em túnel de vento. A BWB é um projeto de aeronave alternativo que faz parte do conceito de aeronaves sustentáveis. O Laboratório de Aeronaves da Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo, vem realizando uma série de pesquisas sobre este assunto. Em trabalhos anteriores com o modelo BWB foram observados a presença tanto de um escoamento transversal na parte externa quanto um forte vórtice no meio do modelo. A fim de melhorar o primeiro protótipo o Droop, bem como um arranjo de três Fences foram adicionados no modelo BWB. Além disso, os dispositivos Winglets e C-wing foram considerados neste estudo. Entre o desenvolvimento de aeronaves, vários dispositivos têm sido estudados e implementados em aeronaves convencionais. Estes tem várias vantagens, tais como a melhoria da eficiência aerodinâmica e a redução do arrasto induzido e efeitos positivos no rendimento do avião. Os dispositivos de ponta da asa criam uma força aerodinâmica em que um do seus componentes atua na direção do voo, esta também pode contribuir para a redução da intensidade dos vórtices nas pontas da asa, reduzindo o arrasto induzido. Pesquisas em aeronaves não convencionais mostraram que BWB poderia ter melhores características aerodinâmicas do que uma aeronave convencional. Aindústriaaeronáuticaestáprocurandoareduçãodoscustosoperacionais,bemcomo a adaptação das aeronaves para a restrição legislativa das emissões de gases e poluição sonora. Nas últimas décadas, esta redução não teve uma melhora significativa em termos de valores absolutos para configurações convencionais, isso fez com que novas e mais eficientes configurações têm sido estudadas. A interferência dos diferentes dispositivos no modelo BWB foram analisados em teste em túnel de vento. Os experimentos foram realizados no Laboratório de Aeronaves da Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo. Foi utilizado um túnel de vento fechado com uma seção de teste de 1.7x1.3x3 [m]. O ângulo de ataque foi variado desde -4º a 20º e Re = 390.000. Os resultados mostram que os dispositivos nas pontas da asa melhoraram o desempenho da aeronave, bem como a eficiência aerodinâmica. Com relação aos Fence este comportamento não foi observado. Entre tanto, em ângulos elevados a eficiência foi aumentada. Através da técnica de visualização oil flow observou-se que o escoamento sobre a asa foi redirecionado diminuindo o coeficiente de arrasto em ângulos de ataque elevados. / This work aims to analyze the aerodynamic behavior of wingtip devices and Fences coupled on a Blended Wing Body aircraft (BWB) through wind tunnel tests. The BWB is an alternative of airship design which makes up part of the Green aircraft concept. The Aircraft Laboratory of the School of Engineering of São Carlos-University of São Paulo has been carrying out a lot of research into this subject. In previous works with a BWB model, the presence both of a cross flow on the external part and a stronger vortex in the middle of the model have been observed. In order to improve the first prototype a Droop as well as an arrangement of three Fences were added on the BWB model. Furthermore the Winglets, C-wing devices were considered in this study. Among the aircraft development, several devices have been studied and implemented in conventional aircraft. These ones had several advantages such as improving the aerodynamic efficiency and induced drag reduction and getting positive effects on aircraft performance. The wingtip devices create an aerodynamic force in which one of this components acts in the flight direction, also these can contribute to the reduction of the wingtip vortices strength, reducing the induced drag. Researches in non conventional aircraft has shown that BWB could have better aerodynamic characteristics than a conventional aircraft. The aeronautical industry is looking for the reduction of direct operational cost, as well as the adaptation of aircrafts to the demanding legislative restriction of gas emissions and noise pollution. In the last few decades this reductions has not had a significant improvement in terms of absolute values for conventional configurations, this has meant that new and more efficient configurations have been studied. The interference of the different devices on the BWB model were analyzed in wind tunnel test. The experiments were carried out in the Aircraft Laboratory of the School of Engineering of São Carlos-University of São Paulo. A closed wind tunel with a section work of 1.7x1.3x3 [m] was used. The angle of attack was varied from -4º to 20º and Re = 390.000. The results shows that the wing tip devices improved the aircraft performance as well as the aerodynamic efficiency. Regarding the Fences this behavior was not observed. However, at higher angles the efficiency was increased. Through oil flow visualization it was observed that the flow over the wing was redirected decreasing the drag coeficient at higher attack angles.

Este trabalho tem por objetivo analisar o comportamento aerodinâmico de dispositivos de ponta de asa e Fences acoplados em uma aeronave Blended Wing Body (BWB) através de testes em túnel de vento. A BWB é um projeto de aeronave alternativo que faz parte do conceito de aeronaves sustentáveis. O Laboratório de Aeronaves da Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo, vem realizando uma série de pesquisas sobre este assunto. Em trabalhos anteriores com o modelo BWB foram observados a presença tanto de um escoamento transversal na parte externa quanto um forte vórtice no meio do modelo. A fim de melhorar o primeiro protótipo o Droop, bem como um arranjo de três Fences foram adicionados no modelo BWB. Além disso, os dispositivos Winglets e C-wing foram considerados neste estudo. Entre o desenvolvimento de aeronaves, vários dispositivos têm sido estudados e implementados em aeronaves convencionais. Estes tem várias vantagens, tais como a melhoria da eficiência aerodinâmica e a redução do arrasto induzido e efeitos positivos no rendimento do avião. Os dispositivos de ponta da asa criam uma força aerodinâmica em que um do seus componentes atua na direção do voo, esta também pode contribuir para a redução da intensidade dos vórtices nas pontas da asa, reduzindo o arrasto induzido. Pesquisas em aeronaves não convencionais mostraram que BWB poderia ter melhores características aerodinâmicas do que uma aeronave convencional. Aindústriaaeronáuticaestáprocurandoareduçãodoscustosoperacionais,bemcomo a adaptação das aeronaves para a restrição legislativa das emissões de gases e poluição sonora. Nas últimas décadas, esta redução não teve uma melhora significativa em termos de valores absolutos para configurações convencionais, isso fez com que novas e mais eficientes configurações têm sido estudadas. A interferência dos diferentes dispositivos no modelo BWB foram analisados em teste em túnel de vento. Os experimentos foram realizados no Laboratório de Aeronaves da Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo. Foi utilizado um túnel de vento fechado com uma seção de teste de 1.7x1.3x3 [m]. O ângulo de ataque foi variado desde -4º a 20º e Re = 390.000. Os resultados mostram que os dispositivos nas pontas da asa melhoraram o desempenho da aeronave, bem como a eficiência aerodinâmica. Com relação aos Fence este comportamento não foi observado. Entre tanto, em ângulos elevados a eficiência foi aumentada. Através da técnica de visualização oil flow observou-se que o escoamento sobre a asa foi redirecionado diminuindo o coeficiente de arrasto em ângulos de ataque elevados. / This work aims to analyze the aerodynamic behavior of wingtip devices and Fences coupled on a Blended Wing Body aircraft (BWB) through wind tunnel tests. The BWB is an alternative of airship design which makes up part of the Green aircraft concept. The Aircraft Laboratory of the School of Engineering of São Carlos-University of São Paulo has been carrying out a lot of research into this subject. In previous works with a BWB model, the presence both of a cross flow on the external part and a stronger vortex in the middle of the model have been observed. In order to improve the first prototype a Droop as well as an arrangement of three Fences were added on the BWB model. Furthermore the Winglets, C-wing devices were considered in this study. Among the aircraft development, several devices have been studied and implemented in conventional aircraft. These ones had several advantages such as improving the aerodynamic efficiency and induced drag reduction and getting positive effects on aircraft performance. The wingtip devices create an aerodynamic force in which one of this components acts in the flight direction, also these can contribute to the reduction of the wingtip vortices strength, reducing the induced drag. Researches in non conventional aircraft has shown that BWB could have better aerodynamic characteristics than a conventional aircraft. The aeronautical industry is looking for the reduction of direct operational cost, as well as the adaptation of aircrafts to the demanding legislative restriction of gas emissions and noise pollution. In the last few decades this reductions has not had a significant improvement in terms of absolute values for conventional configurations, this has meant that new and more efficient configurations have been studied. The interference of the different devices on the BWB model were analyzed in wind tunnel test. The experiments were carried out in the Aircraft Laboratory of the School of Engineering of São Carlos-University of São Paulo. A closed wind tunel with a section work of 1.7x1.3x3 [m] was used. The angle of attack was varied from -4º to 20º and Re = 390.000. The results shows that the wing tip devices improved the aircraft performance as well as the aerodynamic efficiency. Regarding the Fences this behavior was not observed. However, at higher angles the efficiency was increased. Through oil flow visualization it was observed that the flow over the wing was redirected decreasing the drag coeficient at higher attack angles.

Wingtip vortices are an important problem in aerodynamic and hydrodynamic engineering because of their contribution to induced drag, tip cavitation, and wake turbulence. These effects decrease equipment efficiency and lifespan, which increases application costs. Biology provides an inspiring solution to this problem in avian flight through the spreading of primary feathers. Previous studies have shown increased lift to drag ratio and efficiency of wings and propeller blades through modified wingtip geometry. The goal of this project is to optimize the tip geometry (primary feather angle) of a test wing for minimal tip vortex strength using genetic algorithms to mimic natural design evolution. Ultrasonic transducers are used to measure the wing tip vortex circulation in wind tunnel tests for each candidate design. Although neither angle of attack series converged completely, there was partial convergence in each. Due to the fluctuations in the low angle of attack tests, the parent selection algorithm was altered for the high angle of attack series, which resulted in improved convergence trends. A genetic algorithm that used uniform crossover breeding, a 20% mutation rate, and roulette wheel parent selection methods was used to generate an improved tip geometry at a low angle of attack of 6° and a freestream velocity of 15.25 m/s over the course of 17 generations. This improved design consisted of three key features, a staggered leading edge, a drastic mid-section vertical separation, and an upswept trailing edge. A second algorithm, which employed uniform crossover, a 20% mutation rate, and an elitist selection roulette parent selection, provided an improved tip geometry for a 12° angle of attack at a freestream velocity of 11.5 m/s. This improved design consisted of three key features, a downswept leading edge, a drastic mid-section vertical separation, and an upturned trailing edge. Both results showed that the wing tip vortex strength can be reduced by approximately 20% by manipulating tip geometry and that the trailing edge traits produce the most prominent effects on vortex strength.

Winglets being a small structure play an important role in reducing the induced drag in aircraft. Many types of winglets have been designed and their significance in reducing the drag is published. One of the main objectives of this master thesis work is to study about the winglet design and about their contribution in reducing induced drag. A brief overview of wing tip devices and their performance from the manufacturers as well as from airliner’s point of view are discussed. Moreover, the role of winglet in reducing the drag of commercial civil jet aircraft is studied and the percentage of drag reduction is calculated by a conceptual approach. A320 specifications are taken to perform induced drag reduction calculation with and without winglets. Indeed, the total drag count reduced with the help of winglets accounts for additional payload which will be an advantage for the aircraft operator. Reducing the process time in design is one of the important criteria for any field and hence automation with help of CAD tools is very significant in reducing time. This study also aims at developing an automated model for different types of winglets and wing tip devices with the help of CAD technology focused on reducing design time during the initial design process.  Knowledge based approach is used in this work and all the models are parameterized so each model could be varied with associated parameters. The generic model created would take different shapes and switches between different types of wing tip devices as per the user’s requirement with the help of available parameters. Knowledge Pattern (KP) approach is used to develop the automation process. User Defined Features (UDFs) are created for each type of winglet and tip devices. CATIA V5 R18 software is used to develop the models of winglets and tip devices.

The inboard-winglet concept was examined for its flow characteristics by testing for pressure coefficients over the wing and winglet surface in the Virginia Tech Stability Wind Tunnel over a range of freestream velocity and angle of attack. The results were analytically applied to calculate aircraft performance of a roadable aircraft, Pegasus II, which used the inboard-winglet concept in its design. The results proved that this concept has the potential to increase a wing lift coefficient at the right combination of thrust setting and freestream velocity better than a conventional wing-propeller arrangement. The lift coefficient inside the winglet channel was approximated as 2D in behavior. It is also shown that the winglets produce thrust at a positive-lift wing configuration. In the Pegasus II, the vertical stabilizers act like inboard winglets and produce a thrust component from its resultant force, giving 5.2% improvement in its effective aspect ratio and resulting in an induced-drag decrease. With an application of the new wing concept, the Pegasus II performance is comparable to other general aviation aircraft. / Master of Science

Diplomová práce se zabývá aerodynamickou analýzou a optimalizací wingletu kluzáku. Winglet je uvažován s možností změny tvaru v průběhu letu a optimalizační proces je zaměřen na odhalení optimálních tvarů v odlišných letových režimech. První část práce popisuje současné snahy v oblasti návrhu a vývoje wingletů s měnitelnou geometrií. Druhá část je zaměřena na popis funkce wingletu, následována třetí částí, která popisuje optimalizační metody, které mohou být použity během optimalizace. Další částí práce je popis letadla vybaveného wingletem, který byl vybrán pro optimalizaci. Tato část je následována požadavky stavebního předpisu kategorie letadla, které bylo vybráno. Následuje model typického letu tohoto letadla. Zbytek práce je organizován dle procesu hledání optimálních tvarů wingletu. Popis tvorby CAD modelu je následován popisem tvorby CFD modelu a popisem přípravy CDF simulací. V předposlední kapitole jsou odhaleny detaily optimalizačního procesu. Závěrečná část práce obsahuje vyhodnocení výsledků optimalizačního procesu.

International aviation regulations on emissions are becoming more strict. Improvements goals on fuel efficiency demand development of technologies capable of reducing fuel consumption and gas emissions. Morphing structures capability to adapt their aerodynamic shape for optimal condition in flight brings potential for reduction of aircraft drag and operating fuel consumption, minimizing gas emissions and fuel expenses. This study presents an investigation on the impact of a camber morphing winglet on midsize business jet using numerical simulation and wind tunnel experiments. A genetic algorithm was used to optimize the winglet sections camber for different flight conditions. Optimized geometries achieved total drag reduction of up to 0.58% compared to original winglet for single condition optimization, reaching up to 7 % reduction on consumed fuel on a typical mission. This efficiency improvement allows aircraft to carry 900 kg additional load, comprising the morphing system and extra payload. There is an indication of even better results for applications on a bigger commercial jet. Presented methodology is also suitable for new winglet fixed geometry design or incorporating morphing technology. Aerodynamic balance force measurements showed that optimized winglets increased the wing effective aspect ratio (AReff), reducing the lift-induced drag, and maximum lift coefficient (CLmax). However, maximum lift to drag ratio (L/Dmax) was reduced on CL optimization region due to flow differences between optimization and wind tunnel conditions. Aerodynamic efficiency improvement was found for greater lift coefficients (CL). Reductions on wing tip vortex size and intensity due to winglet installation are seen on measured vorticity map, showing liftinduced drag reduction according to Maskells equation. Parabolic drag polar and Maskells equation methods were used for lift-induced drag calculation, using balance force and flowing mapping data for calculations. The presented concept showed considerable aircraft performance improvement, using a feasible device with greater certification ease than other morphing structures concepts, once the failure of this system would not compromise flight safety. Further investigation using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and wind tunnel experiments is necessary to develop and test a functional camber morphing winglet device. / Regulamentações internacionais sobre emissões estão se tornando mais rigorosas. Metas de melhoria da eficiência de consumo de combustível demandam o desenvolvimento de tecnologias capazes de reduzir o consumo e emissões de gases. Estruturas capazes de adaptar sua forma aerodinâmica para condição ótima em voo trazem potencial de redução do arrasto e consumo de combustível da aeronave, minimizando as emissões de gases e gastos com combustível. Este estudo apresenta uma investigação sobre o impacto de uma winglet de camber variável em um jato executivo da categoria mid size utilizando simulação numérica e experimentos em túnel de vento. Um algoritmo genético foi usado para otimizar o camber das seções para diferentes fases de voo. As geometrias otimizadas reduziram o arrasto total em até 0.58% comparadas a winglet original na otimização de condição única, alcançando até 7% de redução no combustível consumido em missão típica. Essa melhoria de eficiência permite a aeronave carregar 900 kg de carga adicional, composta pelo sistema de adaptação e carga paga extra. Há uma indicação de resultados ainda melhores para aplicação em um jato comercial maior. A metodologia apresentada é apropriada para projeto de uma nova winglet de geometria fixa ou que incorpore a tecnologia de adaptação. Medidas de força com balança aerodinâmica mostraram que as winglets otimizadas aumentaram o alongamento efetivo da asa (AReff), reduzindo o arrasto induzido, e o coeficiente de sustentação máximo (CLmax). No entanto, a máxima razão entre sustentação e arrasto (L/Dmax) foi reduzida dentro do intervalo de CL da otimização devido as diferenças entre as condições do escoamento na otimização e no túnel de vento. Melhoria na eficiência aerodinâmica foi obtida para coeficientes de sustentação (CL) maiores. Reduções no tamanho e intensidade do vórtice de ponta de asa são vistas nos mapas de vorticidade medidos, mostrando redução do arrasto induzido segundo a equação de Maskell. Os métodos da polar de arrasto parabólica e da equação de Maskell foram usados para o cálculo do arrasto induzido, utilizando nos cálculos os dados de força da balança e o mapeamento do escoamento. O conceito apresentado mostrou melhoria considerável no desempenho da aeronave, utilizando um sistema factível e com maior facilidade para certificação que outros conceitos de estruturas adaptáveis, uma vez que a falha desse sistema não comprometeria a segurança do voo. Mais estudos são necessários para desenvolver e testar uma winglet de camber varável funcional.

Flygindustrin fortsätter kontinuerligt att växa, med nyare och effektivare flygplan skapar flygbolagen en konkurrenskraft flygbolag emellan samtidigt som de säkrar deras egna framtid med vinster och besparingar i respektives ekonomi. Syftet med denna rapport är att bedöma potentialen för rörliga winglets på framtidens kortdistansflygplan. Kan detta koncept skära ner på flygbolagens ekonomi? Med oljeprisets historiska utveckling går det att fastställa att olika händelser runtom i världen kan påverka utveckling antingen negativt eller positivt. Genom konceptet rörliga winglets kan flygbolag förebygga de negativa konsekvenserna av oljeprisutvecklingen och i bästa fall öka de positiva konsekvenserna. För att bedöma potentialen fokuseras arbetet på följande två frågeställningar: Kan anpassningsbara winglets leda till en förbättring? Hur ser de mekaniska- och aerodynamiska krafterna ut på wingletsen vid förbättring?   Angreppsättet av frågeställningarna har gått till på sådant vis att krafterna som verkar på wingletsen har gjorts om till vektorer. Genom att vektorer användes för att undersöka frågeställningarna blev det lättare att illustrera samt matematiskt beräkna effekterna vid olika kantvinklar och anfallsvinklar. Resultatet visade att det finns en förbättringsmöjlighet på dagens winglets. Dock finns det mycket kvar att göra gällande andra aspekter som också berör potentialen.

In this study, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations have been carried out in order to investigate and improve the performance of the Standard Cirrus glider, using different Navier-Stokes methods and solving the equations for the steady flow. The work has been divided in two parts: First, a study is performed to test the quality of the transition model (Gamma-ReTheta). The two dimensional results of the glider´s airfoil are compared against the results from panel’s methods and the open-source CFD codes: SU2 and OpenFoam. In addition, three dimensional glider´s models are simulated using the transition model with the purpose of creating a validated reference model of the glider’s performance in steady level flight. The simulations are carried out in two dimensions for the outer wing airfoil for a 1.5 e+06 Reynolds number and in three dimensions for the Wing & Fuselage model and Tail & Fuselage model under a range of velocities. Both simulations are validated against experimental data. In the second part of the study, the validated model is used to developed possible improvements in the glider´s external geometry that could produce possible benefits in the performance and handling qualities of the glider.

The main purpose of this study is to aerodynamically design and optimize winglet, twist angle distribution and pitch angle for a wind turbine blade using CFD to produce more power. The RANS solver of Numeca Fine/Turbo was validated by two test cases, the NREL II and NREL VI blades. The results have shown a considerable agreement with measurements for both cases. Two different preconditioners have been implemented for the low Mach number flow. The results have shown the superiority of Merkle preconditioner over Hakimi one and Merkle was selected for further simulations. In addition to that, different turbulence models have been compared and the Launder &ndash / Sharma has shown the best agreement with measurements. Launder &ndash / Sharma was chosen for further simulations and for the design process. Before starting the design and optimization, different winglet configurations were studied. The winglets pointing towards the suction side of the blade have yielded higher power output. Genetic algorithm and artificial neural network were implemented in the design and optimization process. The optimized winglet has shown an increase in power of about 9.5 % where the optimized twist has yielded to an increase of 4%. Then the stall regulated blade has been converted into pitch regulated blade to yield more power output. The final design was produced by a combination of the optimized winglet, optimized twist andbest pitch angle for every wind speed. The final design has shown an increase in power output of about 38%.