Computational Fluid Dynamics and Aerodynamics-system identification of a real hexacopter for controlling the flight within urban environments.

Abstract

This work presents a detailed computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation and aerodynamic investigation of a hexacopter both computationally and experimentally in an urban environment where the data is provided by the Doctoral Researcher, Michael Kurz (M.Sc), member of the aerospace faculty of the University of Applied Sciences Munich. This scientific work provides critical information regarding the flight behavior of a system identified hexacopter within the project “Einflussreduzierte Innerstädtische Luftransport Technologie” (ElLT). The aim of this project is to reduce the influence of urban conditions on air taxis and contribute to the current means of regulation to ensure safety to Urban Air Management (UAM). Therefore, the primary objective of this simulation is to enhance comprehension of the aerodynamic characteristics shown by the hexacopter, especially in low-level flight missions and urban landscape. Aerodynamic properties such as lift and drag coefficient cx, cy and cz by relating the drag forces to the dynamic pressure and reference areas in each direction, and moment characteristics ax, ay and az of the hexacopter will be examined and determined. In order to simulate the airflow around the hexacopter, a numerical model is created utilizing the Navier-Stokes equations for fluid dynamics and conservation laws. The numerical model is done to attain the precise result by solving the mathematical calculations. The approach comprises several steps, such as geometry preparation, mesh construction, boundary condition establishment, and governing equation resolution. The utilization of Ansys Fluent is necessary for the generation of the numerical model. Various CFD techniques, such as Reynold-Averaged Navier Stokes (RANS) for turbulence flow field, have been employed in this work to examine the aerodynamics of the hexacopter.