고효율 EAV 프로펠러의 다분야 최적설계

Abstract

A multidisciplinary design optimization of EAV(Electric Aerial Vehicle) propeller is carried out to maximize the efficiency of propeller performance. An objective is to minimize torque/power while maintaining a thrust level of baseline configuration at a given RPM and thus to improve propeller efficiency. Structural safety is also calculated during the design process and is ensured to satisfy a safety margin. A high-fidelity CFD and FEM-based structures computation is employed for a design. To test the accuracy of the analysis tools, a wind-tunnel test is conducted for the baseline propeller blade at operating RPM and numerical prediction is validated against experiment data. A derivative-free multidisciplinary design methodology based on the Kriging approximation model is used to achieve the design goal of minimization of torque. Design variables are mostly related to the shape of the blade and include twist distribution at eight cross sections along the blade span as well as the planform shape of the blade around tip area. Design results demonstrate a reduction of torque by almost 5% at constant thrust. Safety margin is well satisfied for a new blade.