Effects of 60-Degree Blended Winglets on Aerodynamics of UAV Wing.
Capstone Project: Associated with MIT Academy of Engineering, Alandi, Pune
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) have become important for many applications, where their efficiency is important for optimal performance. Winglets are the mechanism which helps decreasing drag and increasing the performance of UAVs. This study aims to analyze the effects of blended winglets with a 60-degree cant angle on reduction of the overall drag and performance enhancement using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). We developed a semi-tapered UAV wing with an S1223 airfoil. The results shows considerable drag reductions of up to 14.18% and improvements in the lift-to-drag ratio of 22.00% at lower angles of attack. The findings underline the effectiveness of winglets in optimizing UAV aerodynamic performance.
Keywords: CFD, Winglets, UAV, Drag
Importance of Winglet Design:
- Crucial for reducing induced drag and improving overall aerodynamic efficiency.
- Enhances flight endurance and operational capabilities of UAVs.
Main Findings:
- Drag Reduction: Integration of winglets results in a maximum drag reduction of 14.18%.
- Lift-to-Drag Ratio Improvement: Winglets improved the lift-to-drag ratio by 22%, particularly effective at lower angles of attack (0°-7.5°).
- Winglets are highly effective at low angles of attack, enhancing UAV performance.
- At higher angles of attack, winglets become less effective due to complex aerodynamic factors such as adverse pressure gradients and early flow separation.
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