Conceptual Design of Electric Aircraft with Distributed Propellers: Multidisciplinary Analysis Needs and Aerodynamic Modeling Development

摘要

In this paper we describe the technical analysis capabilities necessary to perform conceptual design studies of small aircraft concepts that employ distributed propeller electric propulsion systems. These new aircraft concepts may achieve higher aerodynamic efficiency than conventional designs through the synergistic interaction between propellers and the wing. Consequentially, one of the most crucial components of the analysis is an aerodynamic model capable of analyzing the propellers' influence on the wing and the wing's influence on the propellers. We have implemented a vortex lattice model capable of capturing this mutual influence and reduced the computational run time of the model by employing graphics processing units. This aerodynamic analysis will form the basis of a multidisciplinary design, analysis, and optimization framework that will be used to perform conceptual design studies of these configurations.