ASE 4113 & ASE 4721
The team will be designing a winglet for a Midget Mustang, a home-built experimental class aircraft. The client has asked for a winglet configuration that will decrease fuel consumption via changing in the aerodynamic qualities of the aircraft. The team believes this can be achieved by optimizing the Lift-to-Drag (L/D) ratio of the aircraft. By increasing the L/D ratio, the following positive effects can be achieved: obtaining a higher maximum airspeed for the aircraft, less engine power needed for a given airspeed therefore decreasing fuel consumption, decreasing engine strain and increasing the longevity of the use of the engine.
Using ANSYS Fluent, model and analyze airflow for cruise conditions for the Midget Mustang using various winglet configurations. Observe the changes to the Lift-to-Drag performance.
Create a physical model of the most efficient winglet design. Flight test this design on the Midget Mustang and evaluate performance in real-world conditions.
Learn and practice the real-world engineering processes that will be needed to function as an effective engineer for the engineering industry.
Model the winglets in a configuration that will create a thrust due to aerodynamic forces that will increase the aircraft’s airspeed without additional engine power.
Contact Ryan Premo by email at rgp103@msstate.edu for more information on the project.