@inproceedings{FingerBraunBil2018, author = {Finger, Felix and Braun, Carsten and Bil, Cees}, title = {Case studies in initial sizing for hybrid-electric general aviation aircraft}, series = {2018 AIAA/IEEE Electric Aircraft Technologies Symposium, Cincinnati, Ohio}, booktitle = {2018 AIAA/IEEE Electric Aircraft Technologies Symposium, Cincinnati, Ohio}, doi = {10.2514/6.2018-5005}, year = {2018}, language = {en} } @article{FingerBraunBil2018, author = {Finger, Felix and Braun, Carsten and Bil, Cees}, title = {Impact of electric propulsion technology and mission requirements on the performance of VTOL UAVs}, series = {CEAS Aeronautical Journal}, volume = {10}, journal = {CEAS Aeronautical Journal}, number = {3}, publisher = {Springer}, issn = {1869-5582 print}, doi = {10.1007/s13272-018-0352-x}, pages = {843}, year = {2018}, abstract = {One of the engineering challenges in aviation is the design of transitioning vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft. Thrust-borne flight implies a higher mass fraction of the propulsion system, as well as much increased energy consumption in the take-off and landing phases. This mass increase is typically higher for aircraft with a separate lift propulsion system than for aircraft that use the cruise propulsion system to support a dedicated lift system. However, for a cost-benefit trade study, it is necessary to quantify the impact the VTOL requirement and propulsion configuration has on aircraft mass and size. For this reason, sizing studies are conducted. This paper explores the impact of considering a supplemental electric propulsion system for achieving hovering flight. Key variables in this study, apart from the lift system configuration, are the rotor disk loading and hover flight time, as well as the electrical systems technology level for both batteries and motors. Payload and endurance are typically used as the measures of merit for unmanned aircraft that carry electro-optical sensors, and therefore the analysis focuses on these particular parameters.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{FingerBraunBil2017, author = {Finger, Felix and Braun, Carsten and Bil, Cees}, title = {The Impact of Electric Propulsion on the Performance of VTOL UAVs}, series = {Deutscher Luft- und Raumfahrtkongress 2017, DLRK , M{\"u}nchen}, booktitle = {Deutscher Luft- und Raumfahrtkongress 2017, DLRK , M{\"u}nchen}, year = {2017}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{FingerBraunBil2017, author = {Finger, Felix and Braun, Carsten and Bil, Cees}, title = {A Review of Configuration Design for Distributed Propulsion Transitioning VTOL Aircraft}, series = {Asia-Pacific International Symposium on Aerospace Technology 2017, APISAT 2017, Seoul, Korea}, booktitle = {Asia-Pacific International Symposium on Aerospace Technology 2017, APISAT 2017, Seoul, Korea}, pages = {15 Seiten}, year = {2017}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{FingerBraunBil2018, author = {Finger, Felix and Braun, Carsten and Bil, Cees}, title = {An Initial Sizing Methodology for Hybrid-Electric Light Aircraft}, series = {AIAA AVIATION Forum 2018 Aviation Technology, Integration, and Operations Conference, Atlanta, Georgia, June 25 - 29, 2018}, booktitle = {AIAA AVIATION Forum 2018 Aviation Technology, Integration, and Operations Conference, Atlanta, Georgia, June 25 - 29, 2018}, doi = {10.2514/6.2018-4229}, year = {2018}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{GoettenHavermannBraunetal.2018, author = {G{\"o}tten, Falk and Havermann, Marc and Braun, Carsten and Gomez, Francisco and Bil, Cees}, title = {On the Applicability of Empirical Drag Estimation Methods for Unmanned Air Vehicle Design Read More: https://arc.aiaa.org/doi/10.2514/6.2018-3192}, series = {2018 Aviation Technology, Integration, and Operations Conference, AIAA AVIATION Forum}, booktitle = {2018 Aviation Technology, Integration, and Operations Conference, AIAA AVIATION Forum}, issn = {1533-385X}, doi = {10.2514/6.2018-3192}, pages = {Article 3192}, year = {2018}, 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{LudowicyRingsFingeretal.2019, author = {Ludowicy, Jonas and Rings, Ren{\´e} and Finger, Felix and Braun, Carsten and Bil, Cees}, title = {Impact of Propulsion Technology Levels on the Sizing and Energy Consumption for Serial HybridElectric General Aviation Aircraft}, 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{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{FingerBraunBil2019, author = {Finger, Felix and Braun, Carsten and Bil, Cees}, title = {Impact of Engine Failure Constraints on the Initial Sizing of Hybrid-Electric GA Aircraft}, series = {AIAA Scitech 2019 Forum}, booktitle = {AIAA Scitech 2019 Forum}, doi = {10.2514/6.2019-1812}, 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} } @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} } @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} } @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 = {Deutscher Luft- und Raumfahrtkongress - DLRK 2020}, booktitle = {Deutscher Luft- und Raumfahrtkongress - DLRK 2020}, 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 = {Wind-tunnel and CFD investigations of UAV landing gears and turrets - Improvements in empirical drag estimation}, series = {Aerospace Science and Technology}, volume = {107}, journal = {Aerospace Science and Technology}, number = {Art. 106306}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {1270-9638}, doi = {10.1016/j.ast.2020.106306}, year = {2020}, abstract = {This paper analyzes the drag characteristics of several landing gear and turret configurations that are representative of unmanned aircraft tricycle landing gears and sensor turrets. A variety of these components were constructed via 3D-printing and analyzed in a wind-tunnel measurement campaign. Both turrets and landing gears were attached to a modular fuselage that supported both isolated components and multiple components at a time. Selected cases were numerically investigated with a Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes approach that showed good accuracy when compared to wind-tunnel data. The drag of main gear struts could be significantly reduced via streamlining their cross-sectional shape and keeping load carrying capabilities similar. The attachment of wheels introduced interference effects that increased strut drag moderately but significantly increased wheel drag compared to isolated cases. Very similar behavior was identified for front landing gears. The drag of an electro-optical and infrared sensor turret was found to be much higher than compared to available data of a clean hemisphere-cylinder combination. This turret drag was merely influenced by geometrical features like sensor surfaces and the rotational mechanism. The new data of this study is used to develop simple drag estimation recommendations for main and front landing gear struts and wheels as well as sensor turrets. These recommendations take geometrical considerations and interference effects into account.}, language = {en} } @article{GoettenHavermannBraunetal.2020, author = {G{\"o}tten, Falk and Havermann, Marc and Braun, Carsten and Marino, Matthew and Bil, Cees}, title = {Improved Form Factor for Drag Estimation of Fuselages with Various Cross Sections}, series = {Journal of Aircraft}, journal = {Journal of Aircraft}, publisher = {AIAA}, address = {Reston, Va.}, issn = {1533-3868}, doi = {10.2514/1.C036032}, pages = {1 -- 13}, year = {2020}, abstract = {The paper presents an aerodynamic investigation of 70 different streamlined bodies with fineness ratios ranging from 2 to 10. The bodies are chosen to idealize both unmanned and small manned aircraft fuselages and feature cross-sectional shapes that vary from circular to quadratic. The study focuses on friction and pressure drag in dependency of the individual body's fineness ratio and cross section. The drag forces are normalized with the respective body's wetted area to comply with an empirical drag estimation procedure. Although the friction drag coefficient then stays rather constant for all bodies, their pressure drag coefficients decrease with an increase in fineness ratio. Referring the pressure drag coefficient to the bodies' cross-sectional areas shows a distinct pressure drag minimum at a fineness ratio of about three. The pressure drag of bodies with a quadratic cross section is generally higher than for bodies of revolution. The results are used to derive an improved form factor that can be employed in a classic empirical drag estimation method. The improved formulation takes both the fineness ratio and cross-sectional shape into account. It shows superior accuracy in estimating streamlined body drag when compared with experimental data and other form factor formulations of the literature.}, language = {en} } @article{FingerBraunBil2020, author = {Finger, Felix and Braun, Carsten and Bil, Cees}, title = {Comparative assessment of parallel-hybrid-electric propulsion systems for four different aircraft}, series = {Journal of Aircraft}, volume = {57}, journal = {Journal of Aircraft}, number = {5}, publisher = {AIAA}, address = {Reston, Va.}, issn = {1533-3868}, doi = {10.2514/1.C035897}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Until electric energy storage systems are ready to allow fully electric aircraft, the combination of combustion engine and electric motor as a hybrid-electric propulsion system seems to be a promising intermediate solution. Consequently, the design space for future aircraft is expanded considerably, as serial hybrid-electric, parallel hybrid-electric, fully electric, and conventional propulsion systems must all be considered. While the best propulsion system depends on a multitude of requirements and considerations, trends can be observed for certain types of aircraft and certain types of missions. This Paper provides insight into some factors that drive a new design toward either conventional or hybrid propulsion systems. General aviation aircraft, regional transport aircraft vertical takeoff and landing air taxis, and unmanned aerial vehicles are chosen as case studies. Typical missions for each class are considered, and the aircraft are analyzed regarding their takeoff mass and primary energy consumption. For these case studies, a high-level approach is chosen, using an initial sizing methodology. Only parallel-hybrid-electric powertrains are taken into account. Aeropropulsive interaction effects are neglected. Results indicate that hybrid-electric propulsion systems should be considered if the propulsion system is sized by short-duration power constraints. However, if the propulsion system is sized by a continuous power requirement, hybrid-electric systems offer hardly any benefit.}, language = {en} } @article{FingerGoettenBraunetal.2020, 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 = {CEAS Aeronautical Journal}, volume = {2020}, journal = {CEAS Aeronautical Journal}, number = {11}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {Heidelberg}, issn = {1869-5590}, doi = {10.1007/s13272-020-00449-8}, pages = {713 -- 730}, year = {2020}, abstract = {For short take-off and landing (STOL) aircraft, a parallel hybrid-electric propulsion system potentially offers superior performance compared to a conventional propulsion system, because the short-take-off power requirement is much higher than the cruise power requirement. This power-matching problem can be solved with a balanced hybrid propulsion system. However, there is a trade-off between wing loading, power loading, the level of hybridization, as well as range and take-off distance. An optimization method can vary design variables in such a way that a minimum of a particular objective is attained. In this paper, a comparison between the optimization results for minimum mass, minimum consumed primary energy, and minimum cost is conducted. A new initial sizing algorithm for general aviation aircraft with hybrid-electric propulsion systems is applied. This initial sizing methodology covers point performance, mission performance analysis, the weight estimation process, and cost estimation. The methodology is applied to the design of a STOL general aviation aircraft, intended for on-demand air mobility operations. The aircraft is sized to carry eight passengers over a distance of 500 km, while able to take off and land from short airstrips. Results indicate that parallel hybrid-electric propulsion systems must be considered for future STOL aircraft.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{FingerdeVriesVosetal.2020, author = {Finger, Felix and de Vries, Reynard and Vos, Roelof and Braun, Carsten and Bil, Cees}, title = {A comparison of hybrid-electric aircraft sizing methods}, series = {AIAA Scitech 2020 Forum}, booktitle = {AIAA Scitech 2020 Forum}, doi = {10.2514/6.2020-1006}, pages = {31 Seiten}, year = {2020}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{FingerGoettenBraunetal.2019, author = {Finger, Felix and G{\"o}tten, Falk and Braun, Carsten and Bil, Cees}, title = {Cost Estimation Methods for Hybrid-Electric General Aviation Aircraft}, series = {Asia Pacific International Symposium on Aerospace Technology. APISAT 2019}, booktitle = {Asia Pacific International Symposium on Aerospace Technology. APISAT 2019}, pages = {1 -- 13}, year = {2019}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{FingerBraunBil2020, author = {Finger, Felix and Braun, Carsten and Bil, Cees}, title = {Comparative assessment of parallel-hybrid-electric propulsion systems for four different aircraft}, series = {AIAA SciTech Forum 2020, 06.01.2020 - 10.01.2020, Orlando}, booktitle = {AIAA SciTech Forum 2020, 06.01.2020 - 10.01.2020, Orlando}, doi = {10.2514/6.2020-1502}, pages = {15 Seiten}, year = {2020}, language = {en} } @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} } @article{FingerBraunBil2020, author = {Finger, Felix and Braun, Carsten and Bil, Cees}, title = {Impact of Battery Performance on the Initial Sizing of Hybrid-Electric General Aviation Aircraft}, series = {Journal of Aerospace Engineering}, volume = {33}, journal = {Journal of Aerospace Engineering}, number = {3}, publisher = {ASCE}, address = {Reston, Va.}, issn = {1943-5525}, doi = {10.1061/(ASCE)AS.1943-5525.0001113}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Studies suggest that hybrid-electric aircraft have the potential to generate fewer emissions and be inherently quieter when compared to conventional aircraft. By operating combustion engines together with an electric propulsion system, synergistic benefits can be obtained. However, the performance of hybrid-electric aircraft is still constrained by a battery's energy density and discharge rate. In this paper, the influence of battery performance on the gross mass for a four-seat general aviation aircraft with a hybrid-electric propulsion system is analyzed. For this design study, a high-level approach is chosen, using an innovative initial sizing methodology to determine the minimum required aircraft mass for a specific set of requirements and constraints. Only the peak-load shaving operational strategy is analyzed. Both parallel- and serial-hybrid propulsion configurations are considered for two different missions. The specific energy of the battery pack is varied from 200 to 1,000 W⋅h/kg, while the discharge time, and thus the normalized discharge rating (C-rating), is varied between 30 min (2C discharge rate) and 2 min (30C discharge rate). With the peak-load shaving operating strategy, it is desirable for hybrid-electric aircraft to use a light, low capacity battery system to boost performance. For this case, the battery's specific power rating proved to be of much higher importance than for full electric designs, which have high capacity batteries. Discharge ratings of 20C allow a significant take-off mass reduction aircraft. The design point moves to higher wing loadings and higher levels of hybridization if batteries with advanced technology are used.}, 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} } @article{GoettenHavermannBraunetal.2019, author = {G{\"o}tten, Falk and Havermann, Marc and Braun, Carsten and Gomez, Francisco and Bil, Cees}, title = {RANS Simulation Validation of a Small Sensor Turret for UAVs}, series = {Journal of Aerospace Engineering}, volume = {32}, journal = {Journal of Aerospace Engineering}, number = {5}, publisher = {ASCE}, address = {New York}, issn = {1943-5525}, doi = {10.1061/(ASCE)AS.1943-5525.0001055}, pages = {Article number 04019060}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Recent Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) design procedures rely on full aircraft steady-state Reynolds-Averaged-Navier-Stokes (RANS) analyses in early design stages. Small sensor turrets are included in such simulations, even though their aerodynamic properties show highly unsteady behavior. Very little is known about the effects of this approach on the simulation outcomes of small turrets. Therefore, the flow around a model turret at a Reynolds number of 47,400 is simulated with a steady-state RANS approach and compared to experimental data. Lift, drag, and surface pressure show good agreement with the experiment. The RANS model predicts the separation location too far downstream and shows a larger recirculation region aft of the body. Both characteristic arch and horseshoe vortex structures are visualized and qualitatively match the ones found by the experiment. The Reynolds number dependence of the drag coefficient follows the trend of a sphere within a distinct range. The outcomes indicate that a steady-state RANS model of a small sensor turret is able to give results that are useful for UAV engineering purposes but might not be suited for detailed insight into flow properties.}, language = {en} }