A parametric study on wing design variables for tandem wing configuration eVTOL aircraft

Abstract

The tandem wing configuration is an unconventional aircraft configuration with numerous beneficial aerodynamic and stability characteristics. It has recently gained popularity as a conceivable configuration for Electric Vertical Take-off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft. An important factor in determining the performance of a tandem wing aircraft is the wing design that directly influences the aerodynamic efficiency and flying qualities. This paper examines this effect of multiple wing design parameters on the aerodynamics and stability for tandem wing aircraft through a parametric and optimization design study. A vortex lattice method model integrated with a Python code is used to perform the design study and facilitate the calculations of multiple specified cases in a short time. The mass properties are calculated automatically for different wing geometries and then an optimizer is used to improve the aircraft layout of the baseline tandem wing. The parametric study reveals the sensitivity of wing design parameters on the aerodynamic efficiency and flight stability. The study also highlights the interplay between wing structural weight and aerodynamic efficiency. The following optimization study provides a framework for maximizing the range of a tandem wing aircraft and generates interesting design concepts for a tandem wing eVTOL aircraft. It is demonstrated that the optimization framework provides an increase of at least 30% in the range parameter of a tandem wing aircraft with the inclusion of flight stability constraints. The study considers the interaction between aerodynamics, structural weight, and aircraft handling qualities. Overall, the results provide beneficial design insights to fixed wing and eVTOL aircraft designers.