Computational Fluid Dynamics Analysis of a Coaxial Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

The focus of this project is on the preliminary design of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) utilizing a coaxial rotor setup, taking into account its flight dynamics. Additionally, a comprehensive aerodynamic analysis is conducted using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The idealogy for our design came from the Rukma Vimana, a flying craft mentioned in the ancient Hindu Scriptures. The design is optimized with the coaxial copter setup, a different approach that has yet to be widely explored in the UAV aspect. Coaxial rotors are installed in pairs, with one rotor mounted above the other on concentric shafts. Both rotors have the same axis of rotation, but they rotate in opposite directions (contra-rotate). CFD simulations are conducted to see how the fluid medium flows over the unconventional design of the UAV. Three different in terms of three designs heights are considered, ie, a 30 cm height model, a 35 cm height model, and a 40 cm height model. The inclination of the analysis done is parallel to gravity; therefore, we have tested for vertical flow since it is a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) configuration. Variations in the nose cones are also carried, such as the blunt nose cone and the round nose cone. Overall, with three different heights and two variations in the nose cone, we had a total of six simulations to analyze in CFD from which 30cm performed better out of which we chose the blunt nose cone with a height of 30cm is assumed to be the best configuration as it was feasible to fabricate.