Within the NATO STO AVT-251 Task Group advanced numerical tools are applied towards the redesign of an agile Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV). The Aerodynamic Shaping Group (ASG) was tasked with aerodynamic design and performance analysis. Eleven organizations from five nations collaborated in this group. The aerodynamic design was performed along two separate paths. The first employed an inverse design technique in order to arrive at the best possible design while delaying the formation of vortices over the wing to high angles of attack. The second approach aimed at a vortex-dominated design, combining several parametric studies into the effect of leading edge radius and twist on vortex location and strength. The final design was obtained using inverse design and meets the design requirements. Additionally, studies have been conducted on control devices, reduced order models, and uncertainty quantification. Within the collaborative framework, methods could be verified and exchanged. Key to the success of this collaboration was the great willingness of members to share knowledge, experience and tools in pursuit of common objectives, while supporting interests of individual participants.
展开▼