Design Analysis of Wing Tip Vertical Tail of the Vertical Takeoff and Landing Fixed-wing UAV

Abstract

Vertical takeoff and landing(VTOL) fixed-wing UAV has the advantages of fast speed, long range, vertical takeoff and landing and hovering operation of fixed-wing UAV. It is of great significance to study the influence of the vertical tail of its wing tip on the aerodynamic characteristics of the whole UAV. The vertical take-off and landing fixed-wing UAV is designed with the drooping tail of the wing tip to be used as a vertical tail with both wingtips and landing gear. Four wingtip designs of the drooping tail, upper vertical tail, wing tip end plate and conventional layout are compared the aerodynamic characteristics of the four designs are simulated and analyzed by using LBM-LES algorithm and the wall self-adaptive local vortex viscous large eddy simulation turbulence model. The analysis results show that the drooping tail of the wing tip is more efficient than the other three designs in the leveling flight state; and its stability against the crosswind is better in the vertical takeoff and landing or hovering state.

Keywords

• uav
• vtol fixed-wing
• vertical tail of wingtip
• aerodynamic characteristics