RANS-Based Aeroacoustic Global Sensitivity Study and Optimization of UAV Propellers

Abstract

Modeling of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) propellers in a global, multidisciplinary aeroacoustic optimization was investigated. The modeling consists of three aspects: geometry, aerodynamics, and aeroacoustics. Firstly, a parametric geometry model was established using chord, twist, and sweep distributions along the radius, defined by splines to ensure smoothness. Additionally, airfoil parameters including maximum camber and its position, as well as the position of maximum thickness, were added. Secondly, a blade geometry-resolved aerodynamic model based on steady RANS was established. A two-equation SST turbulence model was used for compressible flow with periodic boundary conditions. Thirdly, an aeroacoustic model for far-field tonal noise calculation was defined, based on the Ffowcs Williams and Hawkings analogy and a RANS solution. A global sensitivity analysis was performed to establish the importance of individual design variables. Consequently, surrogate modeling-based optimization strategy was devised to efficiently establish Pareto front of propeller geometries in multi-objective aeroacoustic optimization.

Analysis of MAV Rotors Optimized for Low Noise and Aerodynamic Efficiency with Operational Constraints

“…Due to the recent developments of MAVs, MAV rotor optimizations have been carried out [64][65][66][67][68][69][70][71]. Serré et al [67] used BEMT simulations coupled with the Farassat formulation-1A and semi-empirical broadband noise models to predict hover efficiency, tonal noise, and broadband noise, respectively.…”

Special Issue “Aeroacoustics and Noise Mitigation”

“…In their work, important geometric parameters were outlined to establish a parametric model for the blade geometry. The twist distributed along the radial direction is more sensitive than the camber and chord of the blade sectional profile, and the sweep shows a negligible effect in the scenarios studied by Klimczyk and Adam Sieradzki [3].…”

“…vehicles (UAV), Witold Klimczyk and Adam Sieradzki [3] proposed a global MDO algorithm to synchronize the aerodynamics and aeroacoustics optimization based on RANS and FW-H acoustic analogy. The k-ω shear stress transport (SST) model was adopted for turbulence modelling in RANS.…”