Skywalker X5 Drone CFD Simulation, ANSYS Fluent

Description

Skywalker X5 UAV Aerodynamic CFD Simulation, ANSYS Fluent Training

Introduction

The Skywalker X5 is a small, fixed-wing UAV for use in surveillance, aerial inspection, and surveying tasks. It has a high-quality mapping camera, a hand or catapult lunached, can fly missions independently, and lands with a parachute.

The X5 is a fantastic-looking FPV with a sensible cabin configuration that can accommodate more extensive electric systems. It has a wide range of professional applications and can be incorporated into new industries.

In this simulation, a Skywalker X5 UAV with one propeller rotating around the horizontal axis is modeled using ANSYS Fluent software. The device is moving at a speed of 60 km/h.

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 1,195,030.

Methodology: Skywalker X5 UAV CFD Simulation

The Multiple Reference Frames (MRF) method is used to model the rotational motion of the propeller.

Conclusion

After the simulation process was finished, contours and vectors for parameters such as velocity, pressure and turbulent intensity were obtained. As shown in the velocity contours, the vortexes behind the propeller are visible where the turbulent intensity parameter is high.

Compared to other UAVs, this model endures less amount of drag force. One of the reasons for this is the absence of any part of the UAV behind the vortexes because these vortexes increase the amount of drag by hitting any part significantly.

In the static pressure parameter case, as it was predictable, the UAV’s front surfaces endure the highest pressure. The maximum static pressure is applied to the propellers’ edges, which tells us about the necessity of the manufacturing focus on this component.