48th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting Including the New Horizons Forum and Aerospace Exposition AIAA 2010-70

4 - 7 January 2010, Orlando, Florida

A Study of Trailing-Edge Scalloping on Flat-Plate Membrane Wing

Performance

Travis Hicks*, Melissa Conway†, James P. Hubner‡

The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35486

The objective of this investigation was to study how membrane scalloping and the onset of
vibration affect the aerodynamic efficiency of flat, membrane wings at low Reynolds numbers (Re =
10,000 to 61,000) and moderate-to-high membrane extensibility (Π < 18). While the removal of
trailing-edge material was expected to reduce drag by decreasing trailing-edge vibration, the
subsequent effects on lift and lift-to-drag ratio were not known. A series of flat plates with moderate
aspect ratio and repeating batten-reinforced, membrane cell structure were studied and compared to
a solid flat plate and a solid scalloped plate. Centerline wake profiles, wake spectral characteristics
and the onset of membrane vibration were measured using hot-wire anemometry; membrane
vibration amplitude was measured using a laser vibrometer. Lift and drag measurements were
acquired using an external force-balance. Results showed that the size and aspect ratio of the latex
cell had a greater impact on lift than the amount of scalloping and that the amount of scalloping had
a greater affect on drag than the cell shape. Compared to the solid plates, the membrane plates
exhibited higher lift and drag coefficients. Trailing-edge scalloping decreased both the lift and drag
coefficients relative to no scalloping, with a greater relative effect on drag. The maximum lift-to-
drag ratio was attained for a 25% scallop with a square repeating cell geometry sized at 80% of the
wing chord. These results indicate that the membrane scalloping can lead to more efficient wings.

I. Introduction

The primary aim of micro air vehicle (MAV) research is to develop a small, low cost and agile
aircraft to be used for surveillance and reconnaissance, including in urban environments where large
aircraft would be unable to maneuver1. This has become more feasible as payloads and components have
become lighter and smaller, allowing MAVs to carry cameras, sensors or communications equipment as
the mission requires. However, significant aerodynamic and performance issues exist at the low flight
Reynolds numbers experienced by MAVs. Numerous studies have shown that the aerodynamic
performance of traditional airfoils decreases significantly at Reynolds numbers less than 100,000 due to
the development of separation at or near the leading-edge.2-4 For a conventional airfoil, separation begins
at the trailing-edge and moves forward. For Re between 30,000 and 200,0005,6, the incoming laminar
boundary separates nearer the leading-edge and either reattaches, forming a separation bubble due to
shear layer transition, or remains unattached. The presence, state and size of the shear layer and
separation bubble, if reattachment occurs, greatly affect the airfoil performance. Factors such as surface
roughness, pressure gradient, free stream turbulence, wing planform and airfoil camber influence the
formation of separation bubbles and thus aerodynamic performance.7-9
To design more efficient airfoils and help mitigate flow disturbances, a segment of MAV research
has focused on wing flexibility. Shyy, Jenkins and Smith10 demonstrated a hybrid airfoil design (a
conventional airfoil shape with a latex sheet mounted on top of a curved wire upper surface mesh) that
improved lift-to-drag characteristics in unsteady (gusting) free-stream conditions. Assessment of flying
quality between rigid and flexible wing designs11 showed lower-frequency pilot input control for flexible
wings, even in gusty environments. Ifju et al.12 used biologically-inspired flexible, thin wing designs (<
2% thickness, moderate camber) in which extensible membranes were attached to carbon-fiber frames
(Fig. 1). Static structural deformation and force measurement experiments as well as numerical
modeling13,14 have shown these wings passively modify the geometric (batten-reinforced wing design,
free trailing-edge) and aerodynamic (perimeter-reinforced wing design, fixed trailing-edge) twist which

* Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics, 205 Hardaway Hall, Student Member
† Undergraduate Research Assistant, Department of Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics, 205 Hardaway Hall, Student Member
‡ Assistant Professor, Department of Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics, 205 Hardaway Hall, Associate Fellow

Copyright © 2010 by T. Hicks, M. Conway and J. Hubner. Published by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc., with permission.