Numerical simulation and analysis of a ducted‑fan drone hovering in confined environments  

作　　者：Yiwei Luo Yuhang He Bin Xu Tianfu Ai Yuping Qian Yangjun Zhang 

机构地区：[1]State Key Laboratory of Intelligent Green Vehicle and Mobility,School of Vehicle and Mobility,Tsinghua University,Beijing 100084,China [2]Vehicle Research Center,School of Mechanical Engineering,Beijing Institute of Technology,Beijing 100081,China [3]Beijing Institute of Technology Chongqing Innovation Center,Chongqing 401120,China [4]Key Laboratory of Conveyance and Equipment Ministry of Education,East China Jiaotong University,Nanchang 330013,China

出　　处：《Advances in Aerodynamics》2024年第1期229-249,共21页空气动力学进展(英文)

摘　　要：Ducted-fan drones are expected to become the main drone configuration in the future due to their high efficiency and minimal noise.When drones operate in confined spaces,significant proximity effects may interfere with the aerodynamic performance and pose challenges to flight safety.This study utilizes computational fluid dynam-ics simulation with the Unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes(URANS)method to estimate the proximity effects.Through experimental validation,our computational results show that the influence range of proximity effects lies within four rotor radii.The ground effect and the ceiling effect mainly affect thrust properties,while the wall effect mainly affects the lateral force and the pitching moment.In ground effect,the rotor thrust increases exponentially by up to 26%with ground distance compared with that in open space.Minimum duct thrust and total thrust are observed at one rotor radius above the ground.In ceiling effect,all the thrusts rise as the drone approaches the ceiling,and total thrust increases by up to 19%.In wall effect,all the thrusts stay constant.The pitching moment and lateral force rise exponentially with the wall distance.Changes in blade angle of attack and duct pressure distributions can account for the performance change.The results are of great importance to the path planning and flight controller design of ducted-fan drones for safe and effi-cient operations in confined environments.

关 键 词：Ducted fan Ground effect Ceiling effect Wall effect Computational fluid dynamics 

分 类 号：O35[理学—流体力学]