Thesis (MScEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Computational Aeroelasticity is a complex research field which combines structural
and aerodynamic analyses to describe a vehicle in flight. This thesis investigates the
feasibility of including such an analysis in the development of control systems for unmanned
aerial vehicles within the Electronic Systems Laboratory at the Department
of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Stellenbosch University.
This is done through the development of a structural analysis algorithm using the
Finite Element Method, an aerodynamic algorithm for Prandtl’s Lifting Line Theory
and experimental work. The experimental work was conducted at the Low-Speed
Wind Tunnel at the Department of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering.
The structural algorithm was applied to 20-noded hexahedral elements in a winglike
structure. The wing was modelled as a cantilever beam, with a fixed and a free
end. Natural frequencies and deflections were verified with the experimental model
and commercial software.
The aerodynamic algorithm was applied to a Clark-Y airfoil with a chord of 0:1m
and a half-span of 0:5m. This profile was also used on the experimental model.
Experimental data was captured using single axis accelerometers. All postprocessing
of data is also discussed in this thesis. Results show good correlation
between the structural algorithm and experimental data. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Numeriese Aeroelastisiteit is ’n komplekse navorsingsveld waar ’n vlieënde voertuig
deur ’n strukturele en ’n aerodinamiese analise beskryf word. Hierdie tesis ondersoek
die toepaslikheid van hierdie tipe analise in die ontwerp van beheerstelsels vir onbemande
voertuie binne die ESL groep van die Departement Elektriese en Elektroniese
Ingenieurswese by Stellenbosch Universiteit.
Die ondersoek bevat die ontwikkeling van ’n strukturele algoritme met die gebruik
van die Eindige Element Methode, ’n aerodinamiese algoritme vir Prandtl se
Heflynteorie en eksperimentele werk. Die eksperimentele werk is by die Department
Meganiese en Megatroniese Ingensierswese toegepas in die Lae-Spoed Windtonnel.
Die strukturele algoritme maak gebruik van ’n 20-nodus heksahedrale element
om ’n vlerk-tipe struktuur op te bou. Die vlerk is vereenvouding na ’n kantelbalk
met ’n vasgeklemde en ’n vrye ent. Natuurlike frekwensies en defleksies is met die
eksperimentele werk en kommersiële sagteware geverifieer.
Die aerodinamiese algoritme is op ’n Clark-Y profiel met 0:1m koord lengte en ’n
halwe vlerk length van 0:5m geïmplementeer. Die profiel is ook in die eksperimentele
model gebruik.
Die eksperimentele data is met eendimensionele versnellingsmeters opgeneem.
Al die verdere berekeninge wat op ekperimentele data gedoen is, word in die tesis
beskryf. Resultate toon goeie korrelasie tussen die strukturele algoritme en die
eksperimentele data.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/80317 |
| Date | 03 1900 |
| Creators | Cilliers, M. E. |
| Contributors | Jones, T., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Electrical and Electronic Engineering. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 128 p. : ill. |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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