RANS-Based Aeroacoustic Global Sensitivity Study and Optimization of UAV Propellers

Modeling of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) propellers in a global, multidisciplinary aeroacoustic optimization was investigated. The modeling consists three aspects: geometry, aerodynamics, and aeroacoustics. Firstly, parametric geometry model established using chord, twist, sweep distributions along the radius, defined by splines to ensure smoothness. Additionally, airfoil parameters including maximum camber its position, as well position thickness, were added. Secondly, blade geometry-resolved aerodynamic based on steady RANS established. A two-equation SST turbulence used for compressible flow with periodic boundary conditions. Thirdly, an far-field tonal noise calculation defined, Ffowcs Williams Hawkings analogy solution. global sensitivity analysis performed establish importance individual design variables. Consequently, surrogate modeling-based strategy devised efficiently Pareto front propeller geometries multi-objective optimization.