Low Reynolds Number Propeller Slipstream Interference with Wing Aerodynamic Characteristics

Abstract

Detailed research for wing aerodynamic characteristics of propeller slipstream at low Reynolds number could contribute the mechanism study of low speed near space flow, and provide reliable aerodynamic results. The geometric model of single propeller with two-bladed is referred to a solar-powered UAV. High-quality structured grid is generated by ICEM software with two computational domains. Also, the grid application compatible boundary conditions employ sliding mesh method. The development of propeller slipstream and unsteady aerodynamic characteristics of wing at low Reynolds number propeller slipstream are analyzed. Furthermore, the wing aerodynamic characteristics at different propeller positions are studied. The results indicate that the propeller slipstream can significant change the distribution of the surface pressure of the wing and the lift distribution along wingspan and affect the lift and drag characteristics of the wing. Meanwhile, the laminar separation bubble may be considerable restrained by the propeller slipstream.

Keywords

• low reynolds number
• propeller slipstream
• sliding mesh
• navier-stokes equations
• unsteady cfd simulations
• laminar separation bubble