PhD Research Studentship in Airframe Aerodynamics and Control using Electric Ducted Fans.

作为全球推动航空电气化的一部分，电动管道风扇（edf）越来越多地用于推动城市空中交通（UAM）领域及其他领域出现的新概念。除了作为推力产生的替代手段外，与涡扇相比，EDF的重量减轻，也使得旋转EDF单元用于UAM eVTOL操作成为可能。在这种情况下，必须从一开始就将EDF单元的数量及其在飞行器配置中的位置作为整个飞行器设计的一部分加以考虑。非常规的布局，加上旋转的可能性，意味着必须充分考虑EDF和机身之间的气动和推进安装效果。这些相互作用会因不同的操作条件和不同的油门设置而变化，有可能导致关键的控制条件。从悬停到向前飞行的过渡将是一个特别具有挑战性的要求。然而，也有机会以有益的方式利用相互作用效应，例如使用edf作为替代或补充控制效应器，直接通过推力矢量和/或间接通过局部动力机身效应。这就需要将飞行控制设计与空气动力学和推进装置一起纳入飞行器的整体设计决策中。该项目将进行研究，利用空气动力学模拟，结合飞行控制模型，研究采用EDF模块的整体飞行器UAM设计。该项目将通过与蓝熊系统研究有限公司以及萨里大学空气动力学和环境流动中心更广泛的研究团队的密切合作而受益。

As part of the global push for the electrification of aviation, electric ducted fans (EDFs) are gaining increasing use to propel novel concepts emerging in the Urban Air Mobility (UAM) sector and beyond. In addition to use as an alternative means for thrust generation, the reduced weight of an EDF, compared to a turbofan, also makes it viable to rotate EDF units for UAM eVTOL operation. In this case, the number of EDF units and their location within an air-vehicle configuration, must be considered from the outset as part of the overall air-vehicle design. Unconventional placement, combined with the possibility for rotation, means the aerodynamic and propulsion installation effects between an EDF and the airframe must be fully considered. These interactions will vary for differing operating conditions and differing throttle settings, with the potential to lead to critical control conditions. Transition from hover to forward flight will represent a particularly challenging requirement. However, there are also opportunities to utilise the interaction effects in a beneficial way, such as use of EDFs as alternative or supplemental control effectors, either directly by thrust vectoring and/or indirectly through localised powered airframe effects. This leads to an increased need to incorporate flight control design, alongside aerodynamics and propulsion installation, in overall air-vehicle design decisions. The project will undertake research utilising aerodynamic simulation, combined with flight control models, to investigate overall air-vehicle UAM design employing EDF modules. The project will benefit through close collaboration with Blue Bear Systems Research Ltd together with the wider research team within the Centre for Aerodynamics and Environmental Flow at the University of Surrey.