@article{NeuJanserKhatibietal.2016, author = {Neu, Eugen and Janser, Frank and Khatibi, Akbar A. and Braun, Carsten and Orifici, Adrian C.}, title = {Operational Modal Analysis of a wing excited by transonic flow}, series = {Aerospace Science and Technology}, volume = {49}, journal = {Aerospace Science and Technology}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {1270-9638}, doi = {10.1016/j.ast.2015.11.032}, pages = {73 -- 79}, year = {2016}, abstract = {Operational Modal Analysis (OMA) is a promising candidate for flutter testing and Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) of aircraft wings that are passively excited by wind loads. However, no studies have been published where OMA is tested in transonic flows, which is the dominant condition for large civil aircraft and is characterized by complex and unique aerodynamic phenomena. We use data from the HIRENASD large-scale wind tunnel experiment to automatically extract modal parameters from an ambiently excited wing operated in the transonic regime using two OMA methods: Stochastic Subspace Identification (SSI) and Frequency Domain Decomposition (FDD). The system response is evaluated based on accelerometer measurements. The excitation is investigated from surface pressure measurements. The forcing function is shown to be non-white, non-stationary and contaminated by narrow-banded transonic disturbances. All these properties violate fundamental OMA assumptions about the forcing function. Despite this, all physical modes in the investigated frequency range were successfully identified, and in addition transonic pressure waves were identified as physical modes as well. The SSI method showed superior identification capabilities for the investigated case. The investigation shows that complex transonic flows can interfere with OMA. This can make existing approaches for modal tracking unsuitable for their application to aircraft wings operated in the transonic flight regime. Approaches to separate the true physical modes from the transonic disturbances are discussed.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{ThomaFisherBertrandetal.2020, author = {Thoma, Andreas and Fisher, Alex and Bertrand, Olivier and Braun, Carsten}, title = {Evaluation of possible flight strategies for close object evasion from bumblebee experiments}, series = {Living Machines 2020: Biomimetic and Biohybrid Systems}, booktitle = {Living Machines 2020: Biomimetic and Biohybrid Systems}, editor = {Vouloutsi, Vasiliki and Mura, Anna and Tauber, Falk and Speck, Thomas and Prescott, Tony J. and Verschure, Paul F. M. J.}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {Cham}, isbn = {978-3-030-64312-6}, doi = {10.1007/978-3-030-64313-3_34}, pages = {354 -- 365}, year = {2020}, language = {en} } @article{GoettenHavermannBraunetal.2020, author = {G{\"o}tten, Falk and Havermann, Marc and Braun, Carsten and Marino, Matthew and Bil, Cees}, title = {Airfoil drag at low-to-medium reynolds numbers: A novel estimation method}, series = {AIAA Journal}, volume = {58}, journal = {AIAA Journal}, number = {7}, publisher = {AIAA}, address = {Reston, Va.}, issn = {1533-385X}, doi = {10.2514/1.J058983}, pages = {2791 -- 2805}, year = {2020}, abstract = {This paper presents a novel method for airfoil drag estimation at Reynolds numbers between 4×10⁵ and 4×10⁶. The novel method is based on a systematic study of 40 airfoils applying over 600 numerical simulations and considering natural transition. The influence of the airfoil thickness-to-chord ratio, camber, and freestream Reynolds number on both friction and pressure drag is analyzed in detail. Natural transition significantly affects drag characteristics and leads to distinct drag minima for different Reynolds numbers and thickness-to-chord ratios. The results of the systematic study are used to develop empirical correlations that can accurately predict an airfoil drag at low-lift conditions. The new approach estimates a transition location based on airfoil thickness-to-chord ratio, camber, and Reynolds number. It uses the transition location in a mixed laminar-turbulent skin-friction calculation, and corrects the skin-friction coefficient for separation effects. Pressure drag is estimated separately based on correlations of thickness-to-chord ratio, camber, and Reynolds number. The novel method shows excellent accuracy when compared with wind-tunnel measurements of multiple airfoils. It is easily integrable into existing aircraft design environments and is highly beneficial in the conceptual design stage.}, language = {en} } @article{ThomaThomessenGardietal.2023, author = {Thoma, Andreas and Thomessen, Karolin and Gardi, Alessandro and Fisher, A. and Braun, Carsten}, title = {Prioritising paths: An improved cost function for local path planning for UAV in medical applications}, series = {The Aeronautical Journal}, journal = {The Aeronautical Journal}, number = {First View}, publisher = {Cambridge University Press}, address = {Cambridge}, issn = {0001-9240 (Print)}, doi = {10.1017/aer.2023.68}, pages = {1 -- 18}, year = {2023}, abstract = {Even the shortest flight through unknown, cluttered environments requires reliable local path planning algorithms to avoid unforeseen obstacles. The algorithm must evaluate alternative flight paths and identify the best path if an obstacle blocks its way. Commonly, weighted sums are used here. This work shows that weighted Chebyshev distances and factorial achievement scalarising functions are suitable alternatives to weighted sums if combined with the 3DVFH* local path planning algorithm. Both methods considerably reduce the failure probability of simulated flights in various environments. The standard 3DVFH* uses a weighted sum and has a failure probability of 50\% in the test environments. A factorial achievement scalarising function, which minimises the worst combination of two out of four objective functions, reaches a failure probability of 26\%; A weighted Chebyshev distance, which optimises the worst objective, has a failure probability of 30\%. These results show promise for further enhancements and to support broader applicability.}, language = {en} } @techreport{ReimerWellmerBraunetal.2007, author = {Reimer, Lars and Wellmer, Georg and Braun, Carsten and Ballmann, Josef}, title = {Aerodynamische Simulation und Optimierung in der Flugzeugentwicklung. Teilvorhabenbezeichnung: Aerodynamische Optimierung unter Ber{\"u}cksichtigung von Struktureigenschaften auf der Basis reduzierter Strukturmodelle, Verbundvorhaben MEGADESIGN. Schlussbericht. Berichtszeitraum: 01.06.2003-31.05.2007. BMBF-Forschungsbericht}, pages = {41 S.: Ill., graph. Darst.}, year = {2007}, language = {de} } @article{KochBoehnischVerdoncketal.2024, author = {Koch, Christopher and B{\"o}hnisch, Nils and Verdonck, Hendrik and Hach, Oliver and Braun, Carsten}, title = {Comparison of unsteady low- and mid-fidelity propeller aerodynamic methods for whirl flutter applications}, series = {Applied Sciences}, volume = {14}, journal = {Applied Sciences}, number = {2}, publisher = {MDPI}, address = {Basel}, issn = {2076-3417}, doi = {10.3390/app14020850}, pages = {1 -- 28}, year = {2024}, abstract = {Aircraft configurations with propellers have been drawing more attention in recent times, partly due to new propulsion concepts based on hydrogen fuel cells and electric motors. These configurations are prone to whirl flutter, which is an aeroelastic instability affecting airframes with elastically supported propellers. It commonly needs to be mitigated already during the design phase of such configurations, requiring, among other things, unsteady aerodynamic transfer functions for the propeller. However, no comprehensive assessment of unsteady propeller aerodynamics for aeroelastic analysis is available in the literature. This paper provides a detailed comparison of nine different low- to mid-fidelity aerodynamic methods, demonstrating their impact on linear, unsteady aerodynamics, as well as whirl flutter stability prediction. Quasi-steady and unsteady methods for blade lift with or without coupling to blade element momentum theory are evaluated and compared to mid-fidelity potential flow solvers (UPM and DUST) and classical, derivative-based methods. Time-domain identification of frequency-domain transfer functions for the unsteady propeller hub loads is used to compare the different methods. Predictions of the minimum required pylon stiffness for stability show good agreement among the mid-fidelity methods. The differences in the stability predictions for the low-fidelity methods are higher. Most methods studied yield a more unstable system than classical, derivative-based whirl flutter analysis, indicating that the use of more sophisticated aerodynamic modeling techniques might be required for accurate whirl flutter prediction.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{ReimerBraunChenetal.2007, author = {Reimer, Lars and Braun, Carsten and Chen, B.-H. and Ballmann, Josef}, title = {Computational aeroelastic analysis and design of the HIRENASD wind tunnel wing model and tests}, series = {Proceedings / IFASD 2007, CEAS/AIAA/KTH International Forum on Aeroelasticity and Structural Dynamics : June 18 - 21, 2007, Stockholm, Sweden}, booktitle = {Proceedings / IFASD 2007, CEAS/AIAA/KTH International Forum on Aeroelasticity and Structural Dynamics : June 18 - 21, 2007, Stockholm, Sweden}, publisher = {KTH}, address = {Stockholm}, pages = {1 CD-ROM}, year = {2007}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{RingsLudowicyFingeretal.2019, author = {Rings, Ren{\´e} and Ludowicy, Jonas and Finger, Felix and Braun, Carsten and Bil, Cees}, title = {Sensitivity Analysis of General Aviation Aircraft with Parallel Hybrid-Electric Propulsion Systems}, series = {Asia Pacific International Symposium on Aerospace Technology. APISAT 2019}, booktitle = {Asia Pacific International Symposium on Aerospace Technology. APISAT 2019}, pages = {14 Seiten}, year = {2019}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{SchildtMarzoccaBraunetal.2019, author = {Schildt, Philipp and Marzocca, Pier and Braun, Carsten and Dahmann, Peter and Keimer, Jona}, title = {Effects of atmospheric excitation on vibration based condition monitoring methods for hybrid-electric aircraft propulsion systems}, series = {AIAC 2018: 18th Australian International Aerospace Congress: HUMS - 11th Defence Science and Technology (DST) International Conference on Health and Usage Monitoring (HUMS 2019): ISSFD - 27th International Symposium on Space Flight Dynamics (ISSFD)}, booktitle = {AIAC 2018: 18th Australian International Aerospace Congress: HUMS - 11th Defence Science and Technology (DST) International Conference on Health and Usage Monitoring (HUMS 2019): ISSFD - 27th International Symposium on Space Flight Dynamics (ISSFD)}, isbn = {9781925627213}, pages = {923 -- 928}, year = {2019}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{FingerGoettenBraunetal.2019, author = {Finger, Felix and G{\"o}tten, Falk and Braun, Carsten and Bil, Cees}, title = {Mass, Primary Energy, and Cost - The Impact of Optimization Objectives on the Initial Sizing of Hybrid-Electric General Aviation Aircraft}, series = {Deutscher Luft- und Raumfahrtkongress 2019, DLRK 2019. Darmstadt, Germany}, booktitle = {Deutscher Luft- und Raumfahrtkongress 2019, DLRK 2019. Darmstadt, Germany}, doi = {10.25967/490012}, pages = {1 -- 17}, year = {2019}, language = {en} } @techreport{ThomaLaarmannMerkensetal.2020, author = {Thoma, Andreas and Laarmann, Lukas and Merkens, Torsten and Franzke, Till and M{\"o}hren, Felix and Buttermann, Lilly and van der Weem, Dirk and Fischer, Maximilian and Misch, Philipp and B{\"o}hme, Mirijam and R{\"o}th, Thilo and Hebel, Christoph and Ritz, Thomas and Franke, Marina and Braun, Carsten}, title = {Entwicklung eines intermodalen Mobilit{\"a}tskonzeptes f{\"u}r die Pilotregion NRW/Rhein-Maas Euregio und Schaffung voller Kundenakzeptanz durch Transfer von Standards aus dem PKW-Bereich auf ein Flugtaxi : Schlussbericht : Projektakronym: SkyCab (Kategorie B) : Laufzeit in Monaten: 6 : Hauptthema: Kategorie B: Innovative Ideen mit Bezug zu UAS/Flugtaxis}, publisher = {FH Aachen}, address = {Aachen}, pages = {97 Seiten}, year = {2020}, language = {de} } @inproceedings{GoettenFingerMarinoetal.2019, author = {G{\"o}tten, Falk and Finger, Felix and Marino, Matthew and Bil, Cees and Havermann, Marc and Braun, Carsten}, title = {A review of guidelines and best practices for subsonic aerodynamic simulations using RANS CFD}, series = {Asia-Pacific International Symposium on Aerospace Technology (APISAT), At Gold Coast, Australia, 04. - 06. Dezember 2019}, booktitle = {Asia-Pacific International Symposium on Aerospace Technology (APISAT), At Gold Coast, Australia, 04. - 06. Dezember 2019}, isbn = {978-1-925627-40-4}, pages = {19 Seiten}, year = {2019}, language = {de} } @incollection{BraunBouckeBallmann2005, author = {Braun, Carsten and Boucke, Alexander and Ballmann, Josef}, title = {Numerical study of the influence of dynamic pressure and deflected ailerons on the deformation of a high speed wing model}, series = {High performance computing in science and engineering '04. Transactions of the High Performance Computing Center Stuttgart (HLRS) 2004 / Eds.: Egon Krause ...}, booktitle = {High performance computing in science and engineering '04. Transactions of the High Performance Computing Center Stuttgart (HLRS) 2004 / Eds.: Egon Krause ...}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {Berlin}, isbn = {3-540-22943-4}, pages = {225 -- 236}, year = {2005}, language = {en} } @article{GoettenHavermannBraunetal.2021, author = {G{\"o}tten, Falk and Havermann, Marc and Braun, Carsten and Marino, Matthew and Bil, Cees}, title = {Aerodynamic Investigations of UAV Sensor Turrets - A Combined Wind-tunnel and CFD Approach}, series = {SciTech 2021, AIAA SciTech Forum, online, WW, Jan 11-15, 2021}, journal = {SciTech 2021, AIAA SciTech Forum, online, WW, Jan 11-15, 2021}, publisher = {AIAA}, address = {Reston, Va.}, doi = {10.2514/6.2021-1535}, pages = {1 -- 12}, year = {2021}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{HippeFingerGoettenetal.2020, author = {Hippe, Jonas and Finger, Felix and G{\"o}tten, Falk and Braun, Carsten}, title = {Propulsion System Qualification of a 25 kg VTOL-UAV: Hover Performance of Single and Coaxial Rotors and Wind-Tunnel Experiments on Cruise Propellers}, series = {Deutscher Luft- und Raumfahrtkongress - DLRK 2020}, booktitle = {Deutscher Luft- und Raumfahrtkongress - DLRK 2020}, year = {2020}, abstract = {This paper presents an approach for UAV propulsion system qualification and validation on the example of FH Aachen's 25 kg cargo UAV "PhoenAIX". Thrust and power consumption are the most important aspects of a propulsion system's layout. In the initial design phase, manufacturers' data has to be trusted, but the validation of components is an essential step in the design process. This process is presented in this paper. The vertical takeoff system is designed for efficient hover; therefore, performance under static conditions is paramount. Because an octo-copter layout with coaxial rotors is considered, the impact of this design choice is analyzed. Data on thrust, voltage stability, power consumption, rotational speed, and temperature development of motors and controllers are presented for different rotors. The fixed-wing propulsion system is designed for efficient cruise flight. At the same time, a certain static thrust has to be provided, as the aircraft needs to accelerate to cruise speed. As for the hover-system, data on different propellers is compared. The measurements were taken for static conditions, as well as for different inflow velocities, using the FH-Aachen's wind-tunnel.}, language = {en} } @article{GoettenFingerHavermannetal.2021, author = {G{\"o}tten, Falk and Finger, Felix and Havermann, Marc and Braun, Carsten and Marino, M. and Bil, C.}, title = {Full configuration drag estimation of short-to-medium range fixed-wing UAVs and its impact on initial sizing optimization}, series = {CEAS Aeronautical Journal}, volume = {12}, journal = {CEAS Aeronautical Journal}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {Berlin}, issn = {1869-5590 (Online)}, doi = {10.1007/s13272-021-00522-w}, pages = {589 -- 603}, year = {2021}, abstract = {The paper presents the derivation of a new equivalent skin friction coefficient for estimating the parasitic drag of short-to-medium range fixed-wing unmanned aircraft. The new coefficient is derived from an aerodynamic analysis of ten different unmanned aircraft used for surveillance, reconnaissance, and search and rescue missions. The aircraft is simulated using a validated unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier Stokes approach. The UAV's parasitic drag is significantly influenced by the presence of miscellaneous components like fixed landing gears or electro-optical sensor turrets. These components are responsible for almost half of an unmanned aircraft's total parasitic drag. The new equivalent skin friction coefficient accounts for these effects and is significantly higher compared to other aircraft categories. It is used to initially size an unmanned aircraft for a typical reconnaissance mission. The improved parasitic drag estimation yields a much heavier unmanned aircraft when compared to the sizing results using available drag data of manned aircraft.}, language = {en} } @book{Braun2007, author = {Braun, Carsten}, title = {Ein modulares Verfahren f{\"u}r die numerische aeroelastische Analyse von Luftfahrzeugen}, pages = {VI, 199 S.}, year = {2007}, abstract = {Aachen, Techn. Hochschule, Diss., 2007}, language = {de} } @inproceedings{GoettenFingerHavermannetal.2020, author = {G{\"o}tten, Falk and Finger, Felix and Havermann, Marc and Braun, Carsten and Marino, Matthew and Bil, Cees}, title = {Full Configuration Drag Estimation of Small-to-Medium Range UAVs and its Impact on Initial Sizing Optimization}, series = {CEAS Aeronautical Journal}, volume = {12}, booktitle = {CEAS Aeronautical Journal}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {Wien}, issn = {1869-5590}, doi = {10.1007/s13272-021-00522-w}, pages = {589 -- 603}, year = {2020}, abstract = {The paper presents the derivation of a new equivalent skin friction coefficient for estimating the parasitic drag of short-to-medium range fixed-wing unmanned aircraft. The new coefficient is derived from an aerodynamic analysis of ten different unmanned aircraft used on surveillance, reconnaissance, and search and rescue missions. The aircraft are simulated using a validated unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier Stokes approach. The UAV's parasitic drag is significantly influenced by the presence of miscellaneous components like fixed landing gears or electro-optical sensor turrets. These components are responsible for almost half of an unmanned aircraft's total parasitic drag. The new equivalent skin friction coefficient accounts for these effects and is significantly higher compared to other aircraft categories. It is used to initially size an unmanned aircraft for a typical reconnaissance mission. The improved parasitic drag estimation yields a much heavier unmanned aircraft when compared to the sizing results using available drag data of manned aircraft.}, language = {en} } @article{FingerBilBraun2019, author = {Finger, Felix and Bil, Cees and Braun, Carsten}, title = {Initial Sizing Methodology for Hybrid-Electric General Aviation Aircraft}, series = {Journal of Aircraft}, volume = {57}, journal = {Journal of Aircraft}, number = {2}, issn = {1533-3868}, doi = {10.2514/1.C035428}, pages = {245 -- 255}, year = {2019}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{GoettenFingerHavermannetal.2019, author = {G{\"o}tten, Falk and Finger, Felix and Havermann, Marc and Braun, Carsten and Marino, Matthew and Bil, Cees}, title = {A highly automated method for simulating airfoil characteristics at low Reynolds number using a RANS - transition approach}, series = {Deutscher Luft- und Raumfahrtkongress - DLRK 2019. Darmstadt, Germany}, booktitle = {Deutscher Luft- und Raumfahrtkongress - DLRK 2019. Darmstadt, Germany}, doi = {10.25967/490026}, pages = {1 -- 14}, year = {2019}, language = {en} }