Modeling wing performance using a numerical non-linear lifting line method

In this project, I modelled a UAV wing with propellers using the numerical non-linear lifting line method. This was done in two parts: first I analyzed the performance of the wing without including the effect of the propeller wake. This included calculating the lift distribution, relationship between coefficient of lift and angle of attack, and stall behavior. Then, I layered in a model of the (simplified) effect of propeller wake on different sections of the wing. Using this methodology, I was able to observe the effect changing the propeller thrust and freestream angle of attack on the wing’s perofrmance, including when entering a stall.

Since this project involved simulating the flow around the wing under a large number of different conditions (angle of attack, freestream velocity, thrust etc.), I ran the model on an Amazon AWS instance. Best $50 I ever spent.