Numerical Modeling and Analysis
of a Multi-rotor UAS
K. S. Vepa, N. V. S. S. Sagar, Balasubramanian Esakki,
and Chandrasekhar Udayagiri
Abstract Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UASs) are gaining a lot of importance due to
their inherent advantage of operating the aircraft with no onboard pilot. Though there
are single and multi-rotor UASs, the later one is a popular choice for operations like
surveillance and seed sowing in agriculture. This work emphasizes on carrying out
computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulations for investigating the flow around a
quadcopter (UAS with four rotors) for different angles of attack (AoAs). Phenomena
such as vortex formations and wake regions are studied. Quadcopter chosen for this
work is a topology optimized 3D printed model. Numerical wind tunnel simulations
are carried out for different wind velocities. Influence of relative propeller motion on
each other is also studied. Stability of the quadcopter during lift and hovering stages
is examined. From the results, it is observed that the stability of the quadcopter
is dependent on the combination of AoA and velocity. Further, at lower ground
clearances, the quadcopter is more stable than at higher altitudes because of the flow
pattern.
Keywords Computational fluid dynamic · Wind tunnel · 3D printed quadcopter
frame · Aerodynamic performance
K. S. Vepa (B)
GITAM (Deemed to Be University), Hyderabad, India
e-mail: Sridhar.v.k@gmail.com
N. V. S. S. Sagar · B. Esakki
Vel Tech Rangarajan Dr. Sagunthala R&D Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, India
C. Udayagiri
IIT Bombay, Mumbai, India
© The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license
to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
N. Gascoin and E. Balasubramanian (eds.), Innovative Design, Analysis
and Development Practices in Aerospace and Automotive Engineering, Lecture Notes
in Mechanical Engineering, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-6619-6_18
171
of a Multi-rotor UAS
K. S. Vepa, N. V. S. S. Sagar, Balasubramanian Esakki,
and Chandrasekhar Udayagiri
Abstract Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UASs) are gaining a lot of importance due to
their inherent advantage of operating the aircraft with no onboard pilot. Though there
are single and multi-rotor UASs, the later one is a popular choice for operations like
surveillance and seed sowing in agriculture. This work emphasizes on carrying out
computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulations for investigating the flow around a
quadcopter (UAS with four rotors) for different angles of attack (AoAs). Phenomena
such as vortex formations and wake regions are studied. Quadcopter chosen for this
work is a topology optimized 3D printed model. Numerical wind tunnel simulations
are carried out for different wind velocities. Influence of relative propeller motion on
each other is also studied. Stability of the quadcopter during lift and hovering stages
is examined. From the results, it is observed that the stability of the quadcopter
is dependent on the combination of AoA and velocity. Further, at lower ground
clearances, the quadcopter is more stable than at higher altitudes because of the flow
pattern.
Keywords Computational fluid dynamic · Wind tunnel · 3D printed quadcopter
frame · Aerodynamic performance
K. S. Vepa (B)
GITAM (Deemed to Be University), Hyderabad, India
e-mail: Sridhar.v.k@gmail.com
N. V. S. S. Sagar · B. Esakki
Vel Tech Rangarajan Dr. Sagunthala R&D Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, India
C. Udayagiri
IIT Bombay, Mumbai, India
© The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license
to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
N. Gascoin and E. Balasubramanian (eds.), Innovative Design, Analysis
and Development Practices in Aerospace and Automotive Engineering, Lecture Notes
in Mechanical Engineering, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-6619-6_18
171