Design and Structural Analyses of a Reciprocating S1223 High-Lift Wing for an RA-Driven VTOL UAV

Abstract

In the design stage of an aircraft, structural analyses are commonly employed to test the integrity of the aircraft components to demonstrate the capability of the structural elements to withstand what they are designed for, as well as predict potential failure of the components. This research focused on the structural design and analysis of a high-lift, low Reynolds number airfoil profile, the Selig S1223, under reciprocating inertial force loading, to determine the feasibility of its use in a new reciprocating airfoil (RA) driven VTOL UAV. The material selected for the wing structures including ribs, spars, and skin, was high-strength carbon fiber. The wing was designed in SolidWorks, while finite element analysis was performed with ANSYS mechanical in conjunction with the inertia forces due to the reciprocating motion of the wing and the lift and drag forces that were derived from the aerodynamic wing analyses. The structural stress and strain determined under the loading conditions were satisfactory and the designed wing could sustain the high reciprocating inertia forces in the RA-driven VTOL UAV module. The results of this study indicate that the Selig S1223 airfoil profile, due to its superior performance at low Reynolds numbers, high-lift, and reduced noise characteristics at low angles of attack, combined with the use of the high strength carbon fiber, proves to be an excellent choice for this RA-driven aircraft application.