Analysis of the Impact of Wing Asymmetry on the Aerodynamic Characteristics of a 20kg Class UAV

To investigate the impact of wing asymmetry on the aerodynamic characteristics of a 20kg-class UAV, this paper develops a MATLAB-AVL-based joint automated simulation method for tandem folding wing configurations. This method efficiently supports batch aerodynamic characteristic analysis of multiple configurations, filling the gap in existing systematic research on the aerodynamic performance of asymmetric folding wings. First, parametric modeling is performed around four independently rotatable wing surfaces. Second, automated simulation is established using MATLAB and AVL software. Finally, aerodynamic characteristic analysis is conducted on typical asymmetric configurations. Simulation results show that in typical asymmetric configurations, the forward wing sweep angle is more sensitive to aerodynamic performance than the rear wing sweep angle. As the sweep angle increases, the overall aerodynamic efficiency decreases, with increased separation and more significant efficiency degradation at medium to high angles of attack. Compared to asymmetric forward sweep, asymmetric backward sweep and slanted configurations exhibit better pitch static stability. The research findings can provide a reference for the selection of asymmetric configuration strategies and the construction of aerodynamic databases for folding wing UAVs.