Research Summaries

Back Cross-Flow Fan for VTOL Unmanned Air Vehicles

Fiscal Year 2012
Division Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science
Department Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering
Investigator(s) Hobson, Garth V.
Sponsor National University of Singapore (Other)
Summary Researchers will assess the feasibility of using cross-flow fans (CFF) as lift/thrust generators for the propulsion of air vehicle capable of vertical take-off and landing (VTOL). The proposed design is in contrast to short take-off and vertical-landing (STOVL) vehicles that utilize ducted fans for thrust generation. Extensive studies by LTV Aerospace Corporation, concluded in 1975, demonstrated the potential advantages of CFF as a thrust producing device although because of the DoD's loss of interest in V/STOL aircraft, the CFF technology has been overlooked and no further testing and development was performed for a quarter century. Therefore, the CFF technology offers ample opportunities for further development using the most recent advanced in new materials, computational fluid dynamics, experimental techniques and advanced measurement methods.
Keywords
Publications Publications, theses (not shown) and data repositories will be added to the portal record when information is available in FAIRS and brought back to the portal
Data Publications, theses (not shown) and data repositories will be added to the portal record when information is available in FAIRS and brought back to the portal