Interesting Aerodynamics

[schoey]

Hi,
I'm looking for ideas for a report, I need to do for my uni major (Aerodynamics of course), I can pick anything, I want to do something that could lead on to my major project which I'll be doing next year.
I've always been interested in ornithopters and MAVS, but any good research in these areas tends to be very closely guarded, so if any one knows of any good sites or has any ideas on a good topic, I'd be happy to hear them.
thanks
Grant

[AirVenture]

I've always been interesting in circular wings as well as gyroplanes (not gyrocopters, actual panes with a single non motorized rotor that spins in autorotation). Maybe that will give you somthing to look into.

-Brett :)

[schoey]

Yeah, I like the idea of gyros to, I guess when you analyse them it would behave as a circular wing. I'll do some searching and see if I can come up with any decent info.
Grant

[davidfee]

The guys at AeroVironment and Caltech have done a lot of work on ornithopter MAVs. Here's a link to a pdf file of one of their papers: http://touch.caltech.edu/publications/2001/jpl/jpl2001.pdf

Also look here: http://bicoreeos.solarbotics.net/mav.html

And here:http://www.erc.caltech.edu/Research/Reports/pornsin1full.html


have fun!
-David

[schoey]

Thanks David,
lots of info there, especially the pdf file, alot of the orni stuff on the net doesn't really go to in-depth with the aerodynamic analysis part, but it seemed to have a bit, I guess thats my job anyway. Uni's funny sometimes, I've built plenty of free-flight ornis, and RC planes but when it comes to the theory it all gets that little bit harder :(
Grant

[ChrisP]

The aerodynamics of ekranoplans/wing in ground effect vehicles is very interesting. Particularly the necessary self stabilizing aspects to counteract centre of pressure shifts/pitching moments (e.g. by wing in ground effect, tail out of ground effect).
You could build some simple rigs to test this if you've got access to even a small wind tunnel. And there's lots on the net if you look.

My major in Aeronautics was a high altitude research aircraft waaaaay back in 1968. To be able to reach 100 000 ft it had such huge engines that it had to take off with only 70% thrust or there was a danger of ripping off the wings ! It looked remarkably like the Russian Mandrake that was probably designed around the same time.

Best of luck

Chris