Numerical Simulation Study on Propeller Slipstream Interference of High Altitude Long Endurance Unmanned Air Vehicle

Abstract In this paper,thecontrol equation of Multiple Reference Frame(MRF) as the propeller calculation model was present and analyzed, the propeller slipstream interference on HALE UAV was studied with three-dimensional numerical simulation. It is shown that the flow field of the MRF model is good consistent with true propeller flow, and MRF can accurately simulate aerodynamic interference on the aircraft. The stream traces on the V-tail surface were deflected and shrank, pressure distribution,C mx and C mz on V-tail surface was changed apparently too.Butslipstream had little effect on wing. The influence of propeller slipstream on the aerodynamic performance of the UAV at the status of taking off is biggest, become weaker at status of climbing and smallest at the status of cruising. The influence of propeller slipstream is enhanced with increment of propeller thrust and basically familiar in the same thrust between the two blade attack angle. The pressure drag on aft of UAV fuselage increased rapidly by the interference of propeller slipstream, leading aerodynamic performance of UAV become badly.