Investigation of fin changes effects on aerodynamic performance of airship

Airships usually have low cruising speed due to their large volume and high drag level. This makes the aerodynamic design of the vehicle, including the surfaces shape, the length-to-diameter ratio and the position of the fins, all very important. Furthermore, an important parameter in the vehicle aerodynamic drag is determining the flow separation area at the rear of the air vehicle. The flow separation plays an essential role in the amount of drag and lift force, so the location of the fins and the design of the rear of the airship will be very important. By using both analytical and numerical methods, this study examines the aerodynamic efficiency of an airship in three different configurations, focusing on the location, type, and angle of attack of the fin, and compares analytical and numerical results. According to studies conducted among the types of fins, the cross-type will have the best performance among the fins in terms of lift-drag ratio. Also, moving the fins forward and distancing them from the rear of the vehicle disrupts the flow pattern at the rear of the vehicle and delays separation. This will improve aerodynamic efficiency and improve the lift-drag ratio of the vehicle.

Keywords:

Airship , Aerodynamic , Aerodynamic configuration