Interactional Aerodynamics of the ERC ROMEO eVTOL

Abstract:
The present study provides a detailed analysis of interactional aerodynamic effects present in the lift and cruise ROMEO demonstrator aircraft. A combination of high-fidelity unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (URANS) simulations and mid-fidelity actuator disk and actuator line methods is applied to efficiently capture the dominant flow phenomena of a distributed electric propulsion configuration across multiple flight regimes. The mid-fidelity approaches are initially validated against fully-resolved propeller simulations to assess their accuracy and computational benefits. Subsequently, the influence of multi-propeller interactions on lifting arms and tail components is analyzed in hover, followed by an investigation of propeller-airframe interactions during forward and sideward hover maneuvers. A particular emphasis is placed on the modification of local inflow conditions and the subsequent distribution of loads. In the context of sideward flight, the present study explores the effects of asymmetric wake deflection on aerodynamic forces and moments. The findings indicate that propellers- airframe interactions exert a significant influence on aerodynamic performance, stability, and control behavior. This underscores the necessity for effective and precise modeling methodologies in the design of eVTOL systems.

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