Study of a Flexible UAV Proprotor

This paper is concerned with the evaluation of design techniques, both for the propulsive performance and for the structural behavior of a composite flexible proprotor. A numerical model was developed using a combination of aerodynamic model based on Blade Element Momentum Theory (BEMT), and structural model based on anisotropic beam finite element, in order to evaluate the coupled structural and the aerodynamic characteristics of the deformable proprotor blade. The numerical model was then validated by means of static performance measurements and shape reconstruction from Laser Distance Sensor (LDS) outputs. From the validation results of both aerodynamic and structural model, it can be concluded that the numerical approach developed by the authors is valid as a reliable tool for designing and analyzing the UAV-sized proprotor made of composite material. The proposed experiment technique is also capable of providing a predictive and reliable data in blade geometry and performance for rotor modes

Performance Improvement of Small UAVs Through Energy-Harvesting Within Atmospheric Gusts

Fixed-wing mini aerial vehicles usually at low altitudes often exposed to turbulent environments. Gust soaring is a flight technique of energy harvesting in such a complex and stochastic domain. Presented work shows the feasibility and benefits of exploiting non-stationary environment for a small UAV. Longitudinal dynamics trajectory is derived showing significant benefits in extended flight with sinusoidal wind profile. Optimization strategy for active control has been performed with the aim of obtaining most effective set of gains for energy retrieval. Moreover, three-dimensional multi-point model confirmed feasibility of energy harvesting in a more complex spatial wind field. Influence of unsteady aerodynamics is determined on overall energy gain along the flight path with active proportional control. Most contributing aerodynamic parameters are identified and suggested as basic objective function of an UAV design for energy harvesting in gusty environment. In addition, passive approach of control related to structural dynamics is investigated, pointing out its potential and possible improvements with aeroelastic tailoring

Performance improvement of small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles through gust energy harvesting

Fixed-wing miniature aerial vehicles usually fly at low altitudes that are often exposed to turbulent environments. Gust soaring is a flight technique of energy harvesting in such a complex and stochastic domain. The presented work shows the feasibility and benefits of exploiting a nonstationary environment for a small unmanned aerial vehicle. A longitudinal dynamics trajectory is derived, showing significant benefits in extended flight with a sinusoidal wind profile. An optimization strategy for active control is performed, with the aim of obtaining the most effective set of gains for energy retrieval. Moreover, a three-dimensional multipoint model confirms the feasibility of energy harvesting in a more complex spatial wind field. The influence of unsteady aerodynamics is determined on the overall energy gain along the flight path with active proportional control. The aerodynamic derivatives describing the contribution to lift by a change in angle of attack and elevator deflection are identified as the most contributing aerodynamic parameters for energy harvesting in a gusty environment, and are therefore suggested as a basic objective function of an unmanned aerial vehicle design for such a flight strategy

A late-Ordovician phreatomagmatic complex in marine soft-substrate environment: The Crozon volcanic system, Armorican Massif (France)

International audienceThe mafic lavas and the diabases of Crozon (Armorican Massif, France), belong to an anorogenic Ordovician volcanic complex, emplaced on a rifted passive margin in North Gondwana. Magma passed through syn-volcanic soft sedimentary substrate, which is today mostly composed of alternating sandstones and mudstones, from Llanvirn to Ashgill in age. Field observations together with microscopic studies and geochemical analyses of magmatic rocks lead us to propose a model of volcano formation which combines hydromagmatic processes, peperitic intrusions, a shallow submarine tephra settling, eruption-fed turbidity currents, and a pillow lava effusion. The Crozon outcrops can be used to reconstruct a complete cross-section from the root of the volcanic complex to the lavas and breccias emplaced on the sea floor. The sites expose: (i) a hypabyssal breccia containing mud chunks and coarse-grained diabase clasts with amoeboidal fine-grained magmatic material; (ii) bulbous peperitic sills and pillow-like lobes bearing a great quantity of sediment-derived enclaves of fluidal morphology; (iii) volcaniclastic breccias containing near-spherical magmatic clasts that resulted from the complete fragmentation of sills in the ductile regime; (iv) a rhythmic peperitic breccia interpreted as the product of mingling between thin lava flows and soft calcareous sediment. The Crozon volcanic form, resulting from explosive interaction with subsurface/surface water, was probably a subaqueous collapsed tuff cone. This upper part of the system is synchronous with an Ashgill carbonate sedimentation, which overlies an Ordovician siliciclastic succession deposited in shelf environments

Integrated static and dynamic modeling of an ionic polymer–metal composite actuator

Ionic polymer–metal composites have been widely used as actuators for robotic systems. In this article, we investigate and verify the characteristics of ionic polymer–metal composite actuators experimentally and theoretically. Two analytical models are utilized to analyze the performance of ionic polymer–metal composites: a linear irreversible electrodynamical model and a dynamic model. We find that the first model accurately predicts the static characteristics of the ionic polymer–metal composite according to the Onsager equations, while the second model is able to reveal the back relaxation characteristics of the ionic polymer–metal composite. We combine the static and dynamic models of the ionic polymer–metal composite and derive the transfer function for the ionic polymer–metal composite’s mechanical response to an electrical signal. A driving signal with a smooth slope and a low frequency is beneficial for the power efficiency

tert-Butyl N-[N,N-bis­(2-chloro­ethyl)sulfamo­yl]-N-(2-chloro­ethyl)carbamate

The title compound, C11H21Cl3N2O4S, was produced as part of a development programme of a new synthetic route to chloro­ethyl­nitro­sosulfamides (CENS) with three chloro­ethyl moieties. These compounds possess structural features that confer potential biological activity and act as alkyl­ating agents. The packing is governed by four weak C—H⋯O inter­actions, forming an infinite three-dimensional network