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Aerostructural Design and Manufacturing of UAV Wings: A Systematic Review

Sayı: 1 16 Nisan 2026
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Aerostructural Design and Manufacturing of UAV Wings: A Systematic Review

Abstract

This systematic review aims to synthesize the multi-disciplinary optimization problem of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) wing design, specifically addressing the conflicting requirements between maximizing aerodynamic efficiency and minimizing structural weight in high-aspect-ratio (>15) wings intended for long-endurance missions. Design/methods/approach: A total of 39 studies from the last 15 years were critically analyzed through an integrated perspective encompassing Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), Finite Element Analysis (FEA), and advanced manufacturing technologies to identify systemic gaps in the design-to-production cycle. Findings/results: The investigation identifies the NACA 4412 airfoil as a primary reference geometry for low Reynolds number regimes due to its superior resistance to the Laminar Separation Bubble (LSB) phenomenon, which is shown to increase drag by up to 50%. Furthermore, the analysis reveals a critical modeling deficiency in current literature: the widespread "rigid wing" assumption neglects the aeroelastic negative twist (washout) effect in flexible structures, leading to a systematic lift overestimation error of approximately 7%. Regarding manufacturing, the study highlights that Z-axis anisotropy in topology-optimized structures produced via additive manufacturing leads to significant structural strength reductions of up to 50%. Conclusions: The review concludes that traditional sequential design paradigms are insufficient; successful UAV development is only achievable through an "Integrated Design (Co-Design)" approach where aerodynamic, structural, and manufacturing constraints are conducted concurrently to effectively bridge the quantifiable gap between digital simulation and physical workshop realities.

Keywords

Low Reynolds Number Aerodynamics , Additive Manufacturing , UAV Wing Design , Laminar Separation Bubble , Topology Optimization

Kaynakça

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  3. [3] U. C. Yayli, S. E. Kırbaş, and H. S. Türkmen, "Design optimization of a fixed wing aircraft," Adv. Aircr. Spacecr. Sci., vol. 4, no. 1, pp. 65-80, 2017, doi: 10.12989/aas.2017.4.1.065.
  4. [4] M. H. Sadraey, Aircraft Design: A Systems Engineering Approach. Hoboken, NJ, USA: Wiley, 2012.
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Kaynak Göster

APA
Erol, E., Saldırıcı, E., Tanrıver, K., & Ak, M. (2026). Aerostructural Design and Manufacturing of UAV Wings: A Systematic Review. Journal of Science, Technology and Engineering Research, 1. https://doi.org/10.53525/jster.1860131
AMA
1.Erol E, Saldırıcı E, Tanrıver K, Ak M. Aerostructural Design and Manufacturing of UAV Wings: A Systematic Review. Journal of Science, Technology and Engineering Research. 2026;(1). doi:10.53525/jster.1860131
Chicago
Erol, Elif, Eren Saldırıcı, Kürşat Tanrıver, ve Mine Ak. 2026. “Aerostructural Design and Manufacturing of UAV Wings: A Systematic Review”. Journal of Science, Technology and Engineering Research, sy 1. https://doi.org/10.53525/jster.1860131.
EndNote
Erol E, Saldırıcı E, Tanrıver K, Ak M (01 Nisan 2026) Aerostructural Design and Manufacturing of UAV Wings: A Systematic Review. Journal of Science, Technology and Engineering Research 1
IEEE
[1]E. Erol, E. Saldırıcı, K. Tanrıver, ve M. Ak, “Aerostructural Design and Manufacturing of UAV Wings: A Systematic Review”, Journal of Science, Technology and Engineering Research, sy 1, Nis. 2026, doi: 10.53525/jster.1860131.
ISNAD
Erol, Elif - Saldırıcı, Eren - Tanrıver, Kürşat - Ak, Mine. “Aerostructural Design and Manufacturing of UAV Wings: A Systematic Review”. Journal of Science, Technology and Engineering Research. 1 (01 Nisan 2026). https://doi.org/10.53525/jster.1860131.
JAMA
1.Erol E, Saldırıcı E, Tanrıver K, Ak M. Aerostructural Design and Manufacturing of UAV Wings: A Systematic Review. Journal of Science, Technology and Engineering Research. 2026. doi:10.53525/jster.1860131.
MLA
Erol, Elif, vd. “Aerostructural Design and Manufacturing of UAV Wings: A Systematic Review”. Journal of Science, Technology and Engineering Research, sy 1, Nisan 2026, doi:10.53525/jster.1860131.
Vancouver
1.Elif Erol, Eren Saldırıcı, Kürşat Tanrıver, Mine Ak. Aerostructural Design and Manufacturing of UAV Wings: A Systematic Review. Journal of Science, Technology and Engineering Research. 01 Nisan 2026;(1). doi:10.53525/jster.1860131