Investigation of the Limitation of XFLR5 for Aerodynamic Predictions at Low Reynolds Numbers

PHILIP CHAN, FRANCISCO GOMEZ, AND HUGO VILLAFANA

Micro Air Vehicles (MAV)

Wind Tunnel Characterization

30 m/s Over-plot

5 m/s Over-plot

Force Balance Calibration and Alignment

XFLR5

Lift vs. α (100k Re #)

Selig Lift Over-plot (100k Re #)

Uncertainty Comparison & Separation Bubble Effect (40k, 180k Re #)

CP vs x & CL vs α (180k Re #)

Wake Experiential Correction (180k Re #)

Drag vs. α (100k Re #)

Selig Drag Over-plot (100k Re #)

Uncertainty Comparison (40k, 180k Re #)

Conclusion•Lift and drag trend •LSB from inflection angle•Stall angle

Does XFLR5 work?