Wind Tunnel Experiments and CFD Analysis of Blended Wing Body (BWB) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) at Mach 0.1 and Mach 0.3

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Associate Professor, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, MALAYSIA.

2 Lecturer, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, MALAYSIA.

3 Professor, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, MALAYSIA.

Abstract

This paper discusses the aerodynamics behavior of a baseline design of a Blended Wing Body (BWB) aircraft developed at MARA University of Technology (UiTM). Two methods of analysis are presented, i.e. Steady-state, three- dimensional Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) of the BWB at Mach 0.3 and Wind Tunnel experiments on 1/6 scaled half model of the BWB at Mach 0.1. In both methods of analysis, Lift Coefficient (CL), Drag Coefficient (CD) and Pitching Moment Coefficient (CM) are measured and compared at respective Mach numbers with respect to variation of angle of attack. Pressure contours and Mach number contours are plotted and the turbulence area is predicted, both extracted from CFD analysis. Visualization using mini tuft during wind tunnel tests is also executed to complete the analysis where the stall progression patterns can be clearly observed. The presented BWB UAV design here has achieved an unprecedented capability in terms of sustainability of flight at high angle of attack, low parasite drag coefficient and decent maximum lift coefficient. Some recommendations for future improvement of the BWB are given.

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