Aerodynamic Simulation of a Typical Multirotor e VTOL Aircraft Configuration

Menglong Ding, Yanyan Zhang, Shiqiang Zhu, Wei Song, Pengyu Zhao, Xufei Yan, Jiandong Cai, Jason Gu, Anhuan Xie

Abstract: The aerodynamic interaction among rotors is a key phenomenon that influences the performance of the electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft. This study applied Lattice-Boltzmann Method (LBM) to systematically investigate the aerodynamic interaction under typical flight conditions. Simulation of a single rotor was performed to validate the reliability of LBM on rotor aerodynamics and find the maximum acceptable grid size. A numerical study on the complex unsteady flowfield caused by the sixteen rotors was also performed when considering the eVTOL is in hovering, forward flight and hovering under sidewind. Moreover, the analysis of the flowfield provides a detailed insight into the flow physics involved in such regular flight conditions.