An Experimental and Computational Fluid Dynamic Study of Axis-Symmetric Coanda Configuration for VTOL MAV Applications

This project is designed to find out a proper shape for the Coanda effect and use them for helping a vertical takeoff vehicle to create additional lift. Experiment and numerical calculations were conducted. The model was set up by placing a propeller at 10 cm above the surface. Shape, height and model with a hold at the center were investigated by ANSYS Fluent. Propeller was simulated by applying actuator disk. First shape is a semi sphere with 50 cm diameter. Second, surface in invert parabolic shape with 50 cm diameter with varying height 15, 25 and 35 cm are considered. The last shape is similar to the second case with 15 and 35 cm height, but it is made hollow by varying the hold's diameter as 7, 11 and 15 cm. The total number of the entire cases is 10. The result shows that the best shape for the Coanda effect is a semi sphere shape but total lift of all models without a hole in the middle, in the first and the second cases, are negative and tend to decline when the height of the shape increases. For the third case, the shape with a height of 35 cm and 15 cm hold diameter has the least negative lift.