Glider dynamics along ascending and descending helical flight paths

Adrien Bouskela, Sergey Shkarayev

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Soaring is a type of flight which utilizes the air motion within an atmosphere to sustain an aircraft in flight. If sufficient energy is available, it can allow for long endurance without the use of propulsion. This work studies the exchange of energy between a glider and both horizontal and vertical winds along canonical helical flight paths. Nature has demonstrated that substantial gains are possible with birds commonly seen flying without the need for wing flapping. They rely on complex flight paths dependent on specific wind environments and are generally split into two categories: static and dynamic soaring. The former relies on an upward motion of air called an updraft, wherein loitering flight is commonly used to gain altitude and potential energy. Dynamic soaring is when energy is extracted from variations in the horizontal wind. These can be temporal or spatial, leading to complex flight paths. There has been extensive work done to develop models, metrics, and solutions to optimal flight in either an updraft or varying horizontal wind environment. This work presents a solution to the combined effects along a simplified canonical path. Solution for dynamics of a point mass glider is applied to an ascending and descending helical flight path subject to steady vertical and variable horizontal wind. Results are calculated numerically for horizontal wind varying linearly with altitude. Energetics of the glider are analyzed in both the inertial and air relative frames. Flight experiments are conducted within unsteady air flows. Results reveal the localized effects of dynamic soaring and global effects of static soaring on energy over the helical flight path.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationAIAA Aviation Forum and ASCEND, 2024
PublisherAmerican Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Inc, AIAA
ISBN (Print)9781624107160
DOIs
StatePublished - 2024
EventAIAA Aviation Forum and ASCEND, 2024 - Las Vegas, United States
Duration: Jul 29 2024Aug 2 2024

Publication series

NameAIAA Aviation Forum and ASCEND, 2024

Conference

ConferenceAIAA Aviation Forum and ASCEND, 2024
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityLas Vegas
Period7/29/248/2/24

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Energy Engineering and Power Technology
  • Nuclear Energy and Engineering
  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Space and Planetary Science

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