Computational prediction of annular wing aerodynamic characteristics

The study has shown a potential for using an annular or ring wing concept in unmanned aerial vehicles. The comparison of the computed aerodynamics of annular wings composed of symmetrical and cambered airfoils has demonstrated the advantages of using annular wings with cambered airfoils. Assessment of the effect of aspect ratio of the annular wing on the computed aerodynamic characteristics has shown expected aerodynamic behavior that is in general agreement with available experimental data. A brief comparison of the aerodynamic characteristics of the cambered annular wing and the equivalent rectangular planar wing consisting of the same airfoil has shown the potential advantages of the annular wing. Although the computed aerodynamic characteristics are all in agreement with expected flow physics, discrepancies observed in moment characteristics in the poststall region and the challenges of computational prediction of drag estimates have set the base for further investigation using improved turbulence models such as large-eddy simulation as parallel ongoing work.