“Aviation is proof that given the will, we have the capacity to achieve the impossible.”
- Edward Vernon Rickenbacker
Three Phase Process
Design
Sub-teams work together to develop conceptual ideas and to bring them to reality. An interconnected meeting philosophy ensures that every discipline is involved in every design decision.
Manufacturing
Late fall, 15 days of winter break, and the 2 months before competition involve our construction of numerous experimental and competition aircraft. All members are expected to contribute a minimum of 10 hours per week in the shop.
Testing
Each season, we install a full-scale model in the Oran W. Nicks Low Speed Wind Tunnel for aerodynamic and stability analysis. Tests of our full scale flight vehicles are conducted weekly at RELLIS.
Software
STAR CCM+
Utilized for its accurate predictions of forces and moments on a 3D body, our team can accurately develop flight models without leaving the shop.
SOLIDWORKS
An idea becomes reality with SolidWorks. Every component is modeled, which allows for accurate manufacturing and pre-determined object placement.
ANSYS
Ensuing that the structure will not fail is a critical part of the structural design process. ANSYS finds the various stresses in each body of the aircraft so materials can be correctly selected.
Matlab & Python
Used primarily as a way of digesting large amounts of data, these programs are used to manipulate raw telemetry, optimize geometric configurations, and size structural members.
XFLR5
2D airfoil analysis is conducted using XFoil, giving accurate sectional coefficients. A 3D stability analysis can be run to check derivatives and moments, and quickly find rough estimates of aerodynamic qualities.