Aerodynamic modeling of a 2-dimensional airfoil with a covert-inspired deployable flap using a discrete vortex method

Unmanned aerial vehicles are expected to fulfill increasingly complex mission requirements but are limited by their inability to efficiently perform high-angle-of-attack maneuvers at low Reynolds numbers, while birds seem to perform these maneuvers with little effort. Birds use a passively-deployed feather called the covert feather to correct for flow reversal over their wings during high-angle-of-attack maneuvers, thereby delaying the onset of stall. The overall research goal is to extend the understanding of the covert feather's role during flight in nature and learn from it to increase the mission adaptability and agility of engineered aerial vehicles during high-angle-of-attack maneuvers and during gust. This thesis presents experimental lift results that show the benefits of attaching a covert-inspired flap to the suction side of an airfoil. Results from a CFD solver are compared to the experimental results and show good agreement. Furthermore, this work reports on the development of a low-order discrete vortex model meant to predict the lift of an airfoil with a covert-inspired flap. Results show that the discrete vortex model is able to reproduce the experimental results for certain flap deflection angles.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Mechanical Engineering

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2018

Author dc:creator

• Waite, Josiah Mark

Contributors dc:contributor

• Wissa, Aimy A

• Bio-inspired design
• Vortex method
• Unsteady aerodynamics

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2017 Josiah Waite

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/99122

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/99122