Aerodynamics Made Easy - Drone CFD Analysis Explained | Step-by-Step Guide

Sample project: https://app.airshaper.com/simulations/dji-phantom-public-3d-model-simulation More information: https://www.airshaper.com or info@airshaper.com In this video is a step by step explanation of how to use CFD simulations to analyze the aerodynamics of a drone. We used a public 3D model of the DJI Phantom, with some modifications (custom propellers). ---Setup--- The AirShaper platform was used to set up the simulation. The drone is pitched forward and a rotational speed has been added to the propellers. ---Results--- - Pressure clouds (iso-surface for the total pressure coefficient of 0): These illustrate where energy losses are high. This highlights the drag caused by the landing gear, the camera, slots in the airframe, ... and of course the propellers themselves. - Pressure map: this one illustrates the pressure perpendicular to the surface. It clearly shows the pressure on the support arms in the wake of the propellers, the suction & pressure side of the blades, the stagnation pressure on the camera, ... - Friction map: this one shows the magnitude of the friction force of the air flowing parallel to the surface. When low, this can indicate either stagnation of the flow (on the camera, ...) or separation of the flow. The surface streamlines indicate how the air moves across the surface. - 3D streamlines: these show how the air flows around the airframe, the support beams, through the propeller area, etc. - Noise: this is an estimation of the sources of wind noise. As this is a steady stage RANS simulation, it is just an approximation based on the turbulent kinetic energy. - Elements: the flow lines through the propellers are visualized. Also, the torque, power and thrust on the propellers can be analyzed by integrating the pressure & friction forces across their surface. - Forces: the forces on each individual element are calculated.