Design and sizing a new eVTOL aircraft (theoretical modelling, and electric flight analysis)

• Main Author: Boon, Zhi Yuan
• Other Authors: James Wang Ming
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: Nanyang Technological University 2023
• Subjects: Engineering::Aeronautical engineering::Aerodynamics
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/168083
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

With the rising popularity of Electric Vertical Take Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft, there is a proliferation of many different types of eVTOL designs and configurations, including tiltrotor, lift + cruise and multicopter. However, there are few published studies on the transition flight mode characteristics for these eVTOL aircraft. This report investigates the modelling and derivation of the complete transition regime for an eVTOL aircraft based on the transitional flight trajectory and power requirements. Additionally, the report will investigate the performance of different eVTOL aircraft configuration. Different modelling modules based on the trajectory of an eVTOL aircraft are developed and integrated within MATLAB. A power required module is developed using Blade Element Momentum Theory that is applicable for a tiltrotor aircraft. In addition, a generalized trim module considers the balanced forces and moments acting on an eVTOL aircraft. The trajectory model in the kinematic module accounts for the dynamic and transient conditions during the transition phase. These modules allow the examination of the full transition regime for an eVTOL aircraft and is applicable for different eVTOL configurations. The estimation of the transitional power required for these eVTOL aircraft for given a transition trajectory, allows for proper motor and energy battery sizing. The results will benefit aircraft designers and the VTOL industry as they deepen the understanding of the transition regime for eVTOL aircraft.