The overall air vehicle performance of a multipl e lifting surface configuration has been studied with respect to both structural and aerodynamic considerations for a candidate mission similar to that of the AeroVironment Raven . The configuration studied is a biplane joined at the tips with endplates. M ore specifically , this study aims to determine if this particular nonplanar wing concept can meet the requirements of the mission for a small Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition UAV. The mission capabilities of small UAVs are constantly gro wing by implementing recent developments in miniature computers and peripherals, electronic sensors, and optical sensing equipment at affordable cost. The requirements for the mission profile of a small UAV using the aforementioned equipment are defined w ith an emphasis on the potential advantages that can be offered by the nonplanar concept wing under investigation. A structural analysis using the finite element software ADINA and an aerodynamic analysis based on wind tunnel experimental data and vortex p anel code results are performed. The results, compared under varying assumptions specific to an equivalent monoplane and a biplane, suggest potential efficiency gains for the new configuration may be possible using the nonplanar wing configuration under ex plicit conditions . The results also show structural characteristics and not aerodynamics alone are critical in determining the utility of this nonplanar concept.
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Landolfo et al. (2009) studied this question.