DEVELOPMENT AND TESTING OF A CHANNEL WING MODEL AIRPLANE

Wade M. Spurlock Mississippi State University

Outline
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Assumptions Blick Theory

o Static Case o Five Components of Lift o Lift Coefficient

o o o

Design Motor Testing g Channel Fabrication

Wade Spurlock

Channel Wing Model Airplane

Assumptions
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Subsonic Incompressible Adiabatic

Low Flight Speeds, Takeoff and Landing

Ref. 3

Wade Spurlock

Channel Wing Model Airplane

Blick Theory
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Static-case channel lift Five components of lift

o Upper surface of channel o Lower surface of channel o Pressure differential on channel o Wing minus channel o Vertical thrust component

o
Ref. 1

Overall lift and lift coefficient

Wade Spurlock

Channel Wing Model Airplane

Static Case: V= 0
m = AeVe & L = mVesin &

Ref. Ref 2

Ref. Ref 1

Wade Spurlock

Channel Wing Model Airplane

Lift: Channel Section

o Upper Surface: o Lower Surface:
* LCU = 1 CLC qd SC * LCL =CLC qSC

o Pressure Difference: L = q q S cos P C d

where: Ref. 1 q = dynamic pressure 1 V 2 2 S = planform area d = conditions at propeller disk (upper channel) = freestream conditions * CL = unpowered lift coefficient = the fraction of lift provided by the lower surface of airfoil = span-average angle of attack span average
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Lift: Outboard Wing and Thrust

* LW = CLW qSW

LT = nT sin( + ) nT sin
Ref. 1

where: W = outboard wing n = number of engines T = thrust = angle of attack = downwash angle

Wade Spurlock

Channel Wing Model Airplane

Lift: Total
L = 1

* q S + nT sin + +CLW W
Ref. R f 1

* * CLC qd SC +CLC qSC + qd q SC cos

Case of zero thrust (qd = q) :

* * L = CLC qSC + CLW qSW
* * * With constant airfoil (CLC = CLW = CL): L = C* qS L
Wade Spurlock Channel Wing Model Airplane

Coefficient of Lift: CL
Vd 1 = 1+ 1+ CT , Using V 2 CL = C
* LC 2 S SC 1 * 1+ 1+ CT + + CLW W S 4 S

SC 1 + 1+ 1+ CT 1 cos + nCT sin + S 4

Case of zero thrust (CT = T = 0) : CL = C C f th t q A
* LC

Ref. 1

SC * SW + CLW S S

* * * * With constant airfoil (CLC = CLW = CL): CL = CL

Wade Spurlock

Channel Wing Model Airplane

1953 NACA Full-Scale Tests Full Scale

Effect of Power Settings on Static Lift Propeller Speed (rpm) 2450 2625 Power (hp) 170 220 Tail-On Lift Tail On Lift, e= 0 (lb) 688 788 Tail-Off Tail Off Lift (lb) 677 763

Maximum CL Values for Freestream Velocity, Power, and Angle of Attack Conditions Freestream Velocity 40 ft/s Angle of Attack = 0 = 20 = 38 = 0 = 20 = 38 P = 0 hp p Channel CL Overall CL 0.2 0.2 2.2 1.3 N/A N/A 0.1 0.1 2.2 1.3 N/A N/A
Channel Wing Model Airplane

60 ft/s

P = 170 hp p Channel CL Overall CL 7.0 4.0 14 8.0 24 15 5.0 2.0 7.0 5.0 13 7.5
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Wade Spurlock

Channel Wing Design

Like Custers CCW-2, the channel wing model is a modified , g Piper Cub. Below is a CAD model of the conceptual design with the channels replacing the inboard sections of the wings and twin motors with propellers at the trailing edge of the wing. wing

Wade Spurlock

Channel Wing Model Airplane

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Channel Wing Design

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Previous research found that the ideal aspect ratio, or the length of the span divided by the length of the chord, is 1. chord 1 The models wing has a 12-inch chord, so the channels span and propeller diameter are 12 in.

Wade Spurlock

Channel Wing Model Airplane

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Electric Motor Selection

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In order to attain the power-to-weight ratio of the CCW-2, p g , which had two 90-hp engines and weighed about 1000 lbs, the channel wing model is estimated to weigh 7.5 lbs with modification and requires a total of 1000 W. W The motor selected is the Rimfire 35-48-700 directly driving the 12-inch propeller. Full motor specifications can be found at www.electrifly.com.

Wade Spurlock

Channel Wing Model Airplane

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Power System
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Lithium-Polymer batteries are the ideal choice for high y g performance and low weight. An electronic speed controller capable of handling 60 A is required for each motor. i df h t Exceed-RC Electric Propulsion Components Fusion Power S i Li P F i P Series Li-Po Volcano S i ESC Vl Series

Four-cell, 14.8 V p y, g 4000 mAh Capacity, 15 C Discharge Weight: 15.3 oz

60 A Continuous, 80 A Burst (<10 s) 2-6 Li-Po cell, 7.4 - 22.2 V , Weight: 2.15 oz

Wade Spurlock

Channel Wing Model Airplane

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Electric Motor Testing

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Dual-motor test stand

5 2 1 3 4

Single motor test setup electric propulsion system components include 1. r/c transmitter, 2. r/c receiver and battery, 3. Li-Po battery pack, 4 W meter, 5. ESC, and 6. electric motor and propeller k 4. Watt 5 ESC d 6 l i d ll
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Electric Motor Testing

o The system is turned on, and the throttle range is set. o The close-up view of the Watt meter displays the increasing current and power as the throttle is increased. The voltage of the battery pack slowly decreases as the pack is drained. o The digital tachometer detects the propeller s rpm. propellers
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Channel Fabrication
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A cylinder was cut from high-density foam and wrapped with y g y pp fiberglass to provide a mold for the channels Four 3-inch-wide pieces of balsa are cut to 18.85 18 85 inches to form the 12 inch diameter 12-inch semicircular channel. The balsa is thoroughly wetted and formed to th t the cylinder by hand. The balsa is then li d b h d Th b l i th covered with paper towels and clamped in place to dry for at least one day.

Wade Spurlock

Channel Wing Model Airplane

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Channel Fabrication
Once the pieces of balsa are p curved and dry, they will be covered as one piece with fiberglass and resin. The molded channel will be strong and lightweight, and the shape will be consistent for every fabrication.

Wade Spurlock

Channel Wing Model Airplane

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References
1. Blick, E. F. and Homer, V., Power-on Channel Wing Aerodynamics, Journal of Aircraft, Vol. 8, No. 4, April 1971, pp. 234 238. 234-238. 2. Pasamanick, J., Langley Full-Scale-Tunnel Tests of the Custer Channel Wing Airplane, RM L53A09, April 7, 1953, National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics. 3. Gunther, C. L. Comparison of Channel Wing Theoretical and Experimental Performance. Aerospace Sciences Meeting and Exhibit, 38th, Reno, NV, Jan. 10-13, 2000. 10 13,

Wade Spurlock

Channel Wing Model Airplane

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