Effects of propeller flow on the longitudinal and lateral dynamics and model couplings of a fixed-wing micro air vehicle

Abstract

This paper analyzes the effects of propeller flow on the linear coupled longitudinal and lateral dynamics of a 150 mm wingspan fixed wing micro air vehicle (MAV). The effects propeller flow on the lift, drag, pitching moment and side force is obtained through wind tunnel tests. The aerodynamic forces and moments are modeled as a function of angle of attack, sideslip angle, control surface deflection and propeller rotation per minute. The nonlinear six degrees of freedom model is linearized about straight and constant altitude flight conditions for different trim airspeed to obtain linear coupled longitudinal and lateral state space model. The eigenvalues and eigenvectors of linear coupled longitudinal and lateral state space model are compared with and without propeller flow effects. The variation in the natural frequencies and damping ratios of short period mode, phugoid mode and Dutch roll mode are analyzed for various trim airspeed. An increase in the natural frequency is observed for phugoid mode and Dutch roll mode with propeller effects. The stability of the spiral mode is enhanced by the propeller flow and also the response of the roll subsidence mode is faster with propeller effects. Detailed analysis of eigenvalues and eigenvectors shows the importance of incorporating propeller flow in analyzing the dynamics of the MAV.

Keywords

Coupling linear state space model micro air vehicle propeller flow

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Grasmeyer JM and Keennon MT. Development of the Black Widow micro air vehicle. In: 39th AIAA aerospace sciences meeting and exhibit, Reno, Nevada, USA, 8–11 January 2001; No. AIAA 2001-0127.

Stanford

Ifju

Albertani

, et al. Fixed membrane wings for micro air vehicles: experimental characterization, numerical modeling and tailoring. Progr Aerosp Sci 2008; 44: 258–294.

Peterson B, Erath B, Henry K, et al. Development of a micro air vehicle for maximum endurance and minimum size. In: 41st AIAA aerospace sciences meeting and exhibit, Reno, Nevada, USA, 6–9 January 2003, No. AIAA 2003-416.

Hwang HC, Chung Dk Yoon KJ, Park HC, et al. Design and flight test of a fixed wing MAV. In: 1^st AIAA technical conference and workshop on unmanned aerospace vehicles, Portsmouth, Virginia, USA, 2002. No. 3413: 159–165.

Harikumar

Dhall

Bhat

. Design and experimental validation of a robust output feedback control for the coupled dynamics of a micro air vehicle. Int J Control Autom Syst 2019; 17: 155–167.

Pushpangathan

Kandath

Bhat

. 75-mm wingspan fixed-wing nano air vehicle with a novel aircraft configuration. IEEE Access 2018; 6: 74521–74535.

Null W, Noseck A and Shkarayev S. Effects of propulsive-induced flow on the aerodynamics of micro air vehicles. In: 23 rd AIAA applied aerodynamics conference, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 6–9 June 2005. No. 4616.

Harikumar

Pushpangathan

Bera

, et al. Modeling and closed loop flight testing of a fixed wing micro air vehicle. Micromachines 2018; 9: 111.

Aminaei

Manshadi

Mostofizadeh

. Experimental investigation of propeller slipstream effects on the wing aerodynamics and boundary layer treatment at low Reynolds number. Proc IMechE, Part G: J Aerospace Engineering 2019; 233: 3033–3041.

10.

Harikumar K, Dhall S and Bhat MS. Nonlinear modeling and control of coupled dynamics of a fixed wing micro air vehicle. In: Indian control conference (ICC), Hyderabad, 4–6 January 2016, pp.318–323. IEEE

11.

Shields

Mohseni

. Roll stall for low aspect ratio wings. J Aircraft 2013; 50: 1060–1069.

12.

Shields

Mohseni

. Effects of sideslip on the aerodynamics of low aspect ratio low Reynolds number wings. AIAA J 2012; 50: 85–99.

13.

Jinraj

Bhat

Harikumar

. Effects of gyroscopic coupling and countertorque in a fixed-wing nano air vehicle. J Aircraft 2017; 55: 239–250.

14.

Bohari

Borlon

Bronz

, et al. Aerodynamic model of propeller-wing interaction for distributed propeller aircraft concept. Proc IMechE, Part G: J Aerospace Engineering 2020; 234: 1688–1705.

15.

Asadi

Sabzehparvar

Talebi

. Damaged airplane flight envelope and stability evaluation. Aircraft Eng & Aerospace Tech 2013; 85: 186–198.

16.

Roskam J. Airplane design, part 6. In: Roskam Aviation and Engineering Corporation. 1990, pp. 371–461.

17.

Blakelock

. Automatic control of aircraft and missiles. New York: John Wiley and Sons, 1991.