Simple Aerodynamic Analysis: RQ-170 UAV CFD Simulation Training

Introduction

The RQ-170 is a high-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The UAV can take real-time images and send them to the ground control station through a line-of-sight communication data link.

In this simulation, an RQ-170 UAV is modeled using ANSYS Fluent software. The device is moving at a speed of 80 mph.

The geometry of the present model is three-dimensional and has been designed using Design Modeler software. We do the meshing of the present model with ANSYS Meshing software. The mesh type is Polyhedra, and the element number is 2,415,175.

Methodology: RQ-170 UAV CFD Simulation

Due to the high speed of airflow during flight and the possibility of very high separation in such flows, the Realizable k-epsilon model using standard wall functions is exploited to analyze the airflow turbulence.

Conclusion

After the simulation process was finished, contours and vectors for parameters such as velocity, pressure and turbulent intensity were obtained. The velocity contours show that the Kutta condition on the trailing edge is visible.

Compared to other UAVs, this model endures less amount of drag force. One of the reasons for this is the absence of a propeller on the device. Instead, a jet engine that produces the thrust needed for flight is placed inside its compartment.

In the static pressure parameter case, as it was predictable, the UAV's front surfaces endure the highest pressure, which tells us about the necessity of the manufacturing focus on this component.