Aerodynamic characteristics of an wheel-functioned propeller in an amphibious quadrotor

Abstract This paper conducts a systematic study on the impact of the wheel duct on the aerodynamic performance of the propeller of a land-air amphibious quadrotor UAV during ground operation. A three-dimensional numerical model is established to analyze the influence of wheel structural parameters on the aerodynamic characteristics of the propeller. The study involves the setup of the computational domain, selection of governing equations, and definition of boundary conditions, with appropriate numerical methods used for simulation. The focus is on the effects of wheel width and internal contour geometry on the aerodynamic performance of the propeller, revealing the mechanism by which the wheel structure affects the flow distribution and thrust characteristics. The results show that the presence of the wheel significantly alters the flow field around the propeller, leading to noticeable changes in its aerodynamic performance. In particular, an increase in wheel width enhances the flow blockage effect, while optimizing the internal contour design can effectively improve flow attachment and thrust characteristics. This study provides a theoretical basis and technical support for the design and optimization of land-air amphibious quadrotor UAVs.