CFD simulation of the Impact of Eagle Bioinspired Wing Slots for Reducing Induced Drag and Enhancing Flight Efficiency in UAVs

Abstract

This research examines the aerodynamic performance of three UAV wing configurations base wing, Model A with cambered wingslots, and Model B with symmetrical wingslots at low Reynolds numbers. Using CFD simulations in ANSYS FLUENT, key parameters such as lift coefficient, drag coefficient, induced drag, and lift-to-drag ratio were analysed across angles of attack from 0° to 15° and flight velocities of 8 m/s, 10 m/s, and 12 m/s. Results reveal that wing slots enhance aerodynamic efficiency by 12.5% at low angles of attack. Model A with cambered wingslots excels in pre-stall lift generation, while Model B with symmetrical wingslots achieves lower drag at lower angles. Both configu-rations significantly reduce induced drag by up to 29% during cruise conditions, highlighting their effectiveness in im-proving UAV performance.

Keywords

• UAV
• Bioinspired
• Induced drag
• Eagle wing
• Vortices

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