Shape Optimization of Near-Space Airships Considering the Effect of the Propeller
Publication: Journal of Aerospace Engineering
Volume 33, Issue 5
Abstract
The stern-mounted propellers of near-space airships affect the aerodynamic characteristics of envelopes. Hence, the influence of propellers on the optimization design of envelopes should be considered. In this study, the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation based on the transition model was used as the main research method. An optimization model of an envelope with a propeller was also established. Envelopes with and without a propeller were optimized successively. Optimal results were analyzed using the CFD simulation. Results show that when the axial force coefficient of the propeller is 0.54, the drag coefficient of the optimal envelope considering the propeller is 16.5% lower than that without considering the propeller. The output power of the engine of the optimal airship considering the propeller can be reduced by 10.0% with the same advance speed. A wind tunnel test indicates that the drag coefficient and transition position of the envelope obtained by the CFD method are in good agreement with the test results. Therefore, the accuracy of the CFD method is sufficient, and the effect of optimization is evident.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Data Availability Statement
Some or all data, models, or codes that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Acknowledgments
This work was supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities No. YJ201850.
References
Boltz, F. W., G. C. Kenyon, and C. Q. Allen. 1960. The boundary-layer transition characteristics of two bodies of revolution, a flat plate, and an unswept wing in a low-turbulence wind tunnel. Moffett Field, CA: Ames Research Center.
Borges, C. F., and T. Pastva. 2002. “Total least squares fitting of Bézier and B-spline curves to ordered data.” Comput. Aided Geom. D. 19 (4): 275–289. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0167-8396(02)00088-2.
Boyd, J. D. D., R. W. Barnwell, and S. A. Gorton. 2000. “A computational model for rotor-fuselage interactional aerodynamics.” In Proc., 38th Aerospace Sciences Meeting & Exhibit, 1–11. Reston, VA: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.
Cimarelli, A., M. Madonia, D. Angeli, and A. Dumas. 2017. “Aerodynamic study of advanced airship shapes.” J. Aerosp. Eng. 30 (3): 04016087. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)AS.1943-5525.0000687.
Conlisk, A. 2006. “The fluid dynamics of rotor wakes—Theory, computation and experiment.” In Proc., Fluid Dynamics Conf., 1–30. Reston, VA: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.
Conway, J. T. 2000. “Exact actuator disk solutions for non-uniform heavy loading and slipstream contraction.” J. Fluid Mech. 365 (1): 235–267. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022112098001372.
Conway, J. T. 2006. “Analytical solutions for the actuator disk with variable radial distribution of load.” J. Fluid Mech. 297 (1): 327–355. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022112095003120.
Driver, J., and D. W. Zingg. 2015. “Numerical aerodynamic optimization incorporating laminar-turbulent transition prediction.” AIAA J. 45 (45): 1810–1818. https://doi.org/10.2514/1.23569.
Fei, X., and Y. Zhengyin. 2009. “Drag reduction for an airship with proper arrangement of propellers.” Chin. J. Aeronaut. 22 (6): 575–582. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1000-9361(08)60144-2.
Goldschmied, F. R. 1954. Proposal for the study of application of boundary-layer control to lighter-than-air craft. Akron, OH: Goodyear Aircraft.
Ilieva, G., J. Páscoa, A. Dumas, and M. Trancossi. 2012. “A critical review of propulsion concepts for modern airships.” Open Eng. 2 (2): 189–200. https://doi.org/10.2478/s13531-011-0070-1.
Kanikdale, T., A. Marathe, and R. Pant. 2013. “Multi-disciplinary optimization of airship envelope shape.” In Proc., Aiaa/issmo Multidisciplinary Analysis and Optimization Conf., 1–21. Reston, VA: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.
Le Chuiton, F. 2004. “Actuator disc modelling for helicopter rotors.” Aerosp. Sci. Technol. 8 (4): 285–297. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ast.2003.10.004.
Liu, J., Q. Wang, J. Chen, H. Zhao, and D. Duan. 2015. “Configuration analysis of a high-altitude airship’s regenerative power system.” J. Aerosp. Eng. 28 (3): 04014078. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)AS.1943-5525.0000408.
Lutz, T. 1996. “Theoretical investigation of the flowfield of airships with a stern propeller.” In Proc., Int. Airship Convention and Exhibition. Bedford, UK: The Airship Association.
Lutz, T., P. Funk, A. Jakobi, and S. Wagner. 2003. “Considerations on laminar flow for a stratospheric airship platform.” In Proc., 3rd Int. Airship Convention and Exhibition, 1–8. New York: IEEE.
Lutz, T., and S. Wagner. 1998. “Drag reduction and shape optimization of airship bodies.” J. Aircraft 35 (3): 345–351. https://doi.org/10.2514/2.2313.
Ma, D., G. Li, M. Yang, and S. Wang. 2018. “Research of the suction flow control on wings at low Reynolds numbers.” Proc IMechE Part G: J. Aerosp. Eng. 232 (8): 1515–1528. https://doi.org/10.1177/0954410017694057.
Ma, D., Y. Zhao, Y. Qiao, and G. Li. 2015. “Effects of relative thickness on aerodynamic characteristics of airfoil at a low Reynolds number.” Chin. J. Aeronaut. 28 (4): 1003–1015. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cja.2015.05.012.
Manikandan, M., and R. S. Pant. 2019. “Design optimization of a tri-lobed solar powered stratospheric airship.” Aerosp. Sci. Technol. 91 (2019): 255–262. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ast.2019.05.016.
McLemore, H. C. 1962. Wind-tunnel tests of a 1/20-scale airship model with stern propellers. Hampton, VA: Langley Research Center.
Meng, Z., X. Fan, Y. Wang, and B. Xiong. 2018a. “Parameterization and optimization for shape-transition curved isolator.” Acta Astronaut. 151 (1): 563–571. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actaastro.2018.06.050.
Meng, Z., X. Fan, Y. Wang, B. Xiong, and L. Lu. 2018b. “Optimization design for shape-transition curved isolator with controllable cross-sectional area.” Acta Astronaut. 152 (2018): 335–341. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actaastro.2018.08.033.
Menter, F. R. 1994. “Two-equation eddy-viscosity turbulence models for engineering applications.” AIAA J. 32 (8): 1598–1605. https://doi.org/10.2514/3.12149.
Ming, Z., Y. Shi, H. Liang, and X. Zhang. 2016. “Near space airship conceptual design and optimization.” J. Commun. Inf. Networks 1 (1): 125–133. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03391551.
Nejati, V., and K. Matsuuchi. 2003. “Aerodynamics design and genetic algorithms for optimization of airship bodies.” Bull. JSME 46 (4): 610–617. https://doi.org/10.1299/jsmeb.46.610.
Obara, C. J. 2015. “Sublimating chemical technique for boundary-layer flow visualizationin flight testing.” J. Aircraft 25 (6): 493–498. https://doi.org/10.2514/3.45611.
Parsons, J. S., R. E. Goodson, and F. R. Goldschmied. 1972. “Shaping of axisymmetric bodies for minimum drag in incompressible flow.” J. Hydronautics 8 (3): 100–107. https://doi.org/10.2514/3.48131.
Robin, L., and M. Florian. 2005. “Transition modeling for general CFD applications in aeronautics.” In Proc., 43rd AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting and Exhibit, 1–14. Reston, VA: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.
Sun, X. Y., T. E. Li, G. C. Lin, Y. Wu, X. Y. Sun, T. E. Li, G. C. Lin, and Y. Wu. 2017. “A study on the aerodynamic characteristics of a stratospheric airship in its entire flight envelope.” Proc. IMechE Part G: J. Aerosp. Eng. 232 (5): 902–921. https://doi.org/10.1177/0954410017723358.
Yang, X., and D. Liu. 2018. “Conceptual design of stratospheric airships focusing on energy balance.” J. Aerosp. Eng. 31 (2): 04017094. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)AS.1943-5525.0000814.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Aerospace Engineering
Volume 33 • Issue 5 • September 2020
Copyright
©2020 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Oct 7, 2019
Accepted: Mar 3, 2020
Published online: Jun 10, 2020
Published in print: Sep 1, 2020
Discussion open until: Nov 10, 2020
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.