Wind tunnel test of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)

Abstract

A low speed wind tunnel test was conducted for full-scale model of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) Low Speed Wind Tunnel (LSWT). The purpose of the presented paper is to illustrate the general aerodynamic and performance characteristics of the UAV that was designed and fabricated in KARI. Since the testing conditions were represented minor portions of the load-range of the external balance system, the repeatability tests were performed at various model configurations to confirm the reliability of measurements. Variations of drag-polar by adding model components such as tails, landing gear and test boom are shown, and longitudinal and lateral aerodynamic characteristics after changing control surfaces such as aileron, flap, elevator and rudder are also presented. To explore aerodynamic characteristics of an UAV with model components build-up and control surface deflections, lift curve slope, pitching moment variation with lift coefficients and drag-polar are examined. The discussed results might be useful to understand the general aerodynamic characteristics and drag pattern for the given UAV configuration.