CBL - Campus del Baix Llobregat

Projecte matriculat

Títol: Aerodynamic and Experimental Study of Winglet Configurations Applied to a Fixed-Wing UAV

Director/a: ALTMEYER, SEBASTIÁN ANDREAS

Departament: FIS

Títol: Aerodynamic and Experimental Study of Winglet Configurations Applied to a Fixed-Wing UAV

Data inici oferta: 19-12-2025 Data finalització oferta: 19-07-2026

Estudis d'assignació del projecte:

GR ENG SIS TELECOMUN

GR ENG SIST AEROESP

GR ENG TELEMÀTICA

Tipus: Individual

Lloc de realització: EETAC

Paraules clau:
Computational fluid dynamics, Winglet design, Optimization, Drag reduction, Wing-tip vortices, Aerodynamic efficiency

Descripció del contingut i pla d'activitats:
This Bachelor's Thesis focuses on the comparative aerodynamic analysis of different winglet configurations applied to a fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), with the aim of evaluating their influence on wing aerodynamic performance and identifying an optimal configuration in terms of induced drag reduction and overall aerodynamic efficiency. The work will start with the definition of a reference wing representative of a small fixed-wing UAV, designed using realistic geometric parameters and flight conditions typical of this class of aircraft. Based on this reference wing, several wingtip configurations will be developed, including a baseline case without winglet and multiple winglet designs, such as positive cant angles, negative cant angles, and curved or circular winglet configurations. This approach allows for a systematic investigation of how winglet geometry affects wingtip vortex formation and the resulting aerodynamic forces. All configurations will be modelled using SolidWorks and analysed through three-dimensional CFD simulations (ANSYS), ensuring consistent boundary conditions and operating regimes in order to guarantee meaningful comparisons. The analysis will be based on aerodynamic coefficients (lift, drag, and efficiency) as well as on qualitative and quantitative examination of the flow field, with particular attention to wingtip vortex behaviour. Based on the numerical results, the winglet configuration that provides the best aerodynamic trade-off for the selected operating conditions will be chosen as the final design. This configuration will then be manufactured using additive manufacturing (3D printing), producing a physical demonstrator that is coherent with the numerical model. Finally, the printed wing-winglet model will be tested in the university's wind tunnel, enabling a preliminary experimental comparison with the CFD results. The experimental campaign will focus on comparing trends, relative performance between configurations, and orders of magnitude rather than full validation. Any discrepancies between numerical and experimental results will be critically discussed, considering the limitations inherent to the CFD modelling, the experimental setup, and scaling effects. Overall, the thesis is conceived as a complete engineering study, integrating aerodynamic design, numerical simulation, manufacturing, and experimental testing, and aims to provide a methodology applicable to preliminary winglet design for fixed-wing UAVs.

Orientació a l'estudiant:
The student will learn the main features regarding aerodynamic concepts and winglet designs. She/He has to analyze the crucial performance indicators, as geometries and operating conditions before entering the design phase. She/He has to become familiarize with the main characteristic features, e.g. key geometric features such as chord, pitch, twist, camber, drag- and lift coefficient, etc. Programming languages as SolidWorks software, and Python will be learned and/or deepen. Simulations will be performed via AnsysFluent in order to evaluate the aerodynamic performance. Supervisor and student will meet regular basis about once a week to evaluate the progress and discuss the following steps. In case of bigger problems the student can approach the supervisor any time in order to solve the problems as soon as possible in order to avoid any hold backs.



Horari d'atenció a estudiants per a l'assignació de projecte: Regular meetings of about 1-2h will be setup weekly in order to check, discuss and evaluate the progress as well to plan the following steps. In case of bigger problems extraordinary meetings will be done as soon as possible.