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An exhaustive model of Coandã effect has not been defined, and fundamental questions are still open. One of them is the influence of convective heat exchange on Coandã adhesion. This paper presents an even preliminary numerical study of this problem. It analyses the behaviour of a fluid stream on a convex surface in the presence of a temperature gradient between the fluid and the convex surface. It approaches the problem by a set of CFD simulations, analyses previous hypotheses, which are based on Prandtl number, and evidences the need for a model that account Reynolds number. The performed simulations are still not sufficient for an exhaustive comprehension of Coandã effect in the presence of heat exchange phenomena. It allows producing some consideration that may help future scientific work in toward a better comprehension of these phenomena.

This paper presents an accurate analysis of an innovative high altitude platform with an unconventional ellipsoidal shape during the most critical operation. The airship is designed accordingly to the specifications, which have been analyzed in terms of the required CONOPS (Concepts of Operations) which are associated with the proposed High Altitude Pseudo-Satellite (HAPS) technology and special operations and to analyze the operational scenarios. An innovative cruiser feeder system is defined and studied. The CONOPS includes communications relays, support of intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition monitor “mobile targets”, and reconnaissance, including long-range ISTAR missions performed by the feeder, combining satellite vision and HAPS vision for a forest fire, disasters, naval accidents, maritime and ground borders.

This study investigates the physical phenomena that affect a high-altitude airship in the presence of lifting gas losses from the hull. General atmospheric thermodynamics and basic physical principles are adopted to describe the behavior of an airship with envelope failures that generate buoyant gas dispersion or depressurisation phenomena. Overpressure that could grant to maintain some controllability during a large part of the descent is assessed by mean of the thermodynamic model of the envelope in the presence of gas losses. Optimisation of the inflation parameters is provided and the conditions for avoiding dangerous crashes on the ground and the potential recovery of a damaged vehicle, people and its payload. In particular, the requirements for a slow depressurisation is computed by the equilibrium with the atmosphere and then how can it be possible to sustain controlled navigation are determined.

This paper presents a coupled numerical and experimental study of an unconventional wing profile such as cp-180-050-gn (Cambered plate C = 18% T = 5% R = 0.78). This wing profile deals with low speeds. It is not currently used on any aircraft model. Otherwise, it presents interesting performances that can be exploited for the design of low-speed STOL or VTOL aircraft by mean of the very high lift that it can generate and can fit with different uses such as VAWT, cyclorotors drones, which are designed explicitly for low-speed operations. After a preliminary CFD assessment of the wing a complete experimental characterisation also at high angles of attack has been performed. The excellent agreement between CFD and experiments has allowed producing a complete analysis of the behaviour of the wing profile both before and after stall conditions. This study has the objective of analysing the viability of such an unconventional wing in traditional or over-stalling conditions.

Today it is necessary to face the energetic, environmental, and safety-related issues of a significant industrial sector such as aeronautic one. It is a marginal contributor to today global GHG emissions (less than 3%), In any case, the associated impacts grows with the increase of air traffic with annual rate 5%. Consequently, aviation will need to face four fundamental problems for the future: 1 the overall impact of aviation is expected to grow up to 10÷15% of global GHG emissions by 2050; 2 the emissions of pollutants by commercial aviation affects the fragile atmospheric layers in the low stratosphere; 3 the increasing age of the flying fleet deals with increasing maintenance and safety issues; 4 the dependence on fossil fuels relates to problems of geopolitical instability and consequence volatility of prices. Substantial innovations are expected for both reducing energy consumption and environmental impacts of aviation and reducing the age of the fleets.

This paper is a preliminary step in the direction of the definition of a radically new wing concept that has been conceived to maximize the lift even at low speeds. It is expected to equip new aerial vehicle concepts that aim to compete against helicopters and tilt rotors. They aim achieving very good performance at very low speed (5 to 30 m/s) by mean of an innovative concept of morphing ducted-fan propelled wing that has been designed to maximize the lift force. This paper presents an effective bibliographic analysis of the problem that is a preliminary necessary step in the direction of the preliminary design of the wing. A preliminary CFD evaluation allows demonstrating that the claimed results are in line with the initial expectations. According to the CFD, results it has been produced a preliminary energetic evaluation of the vehicle in a flying car configuration by EMIPS method.

Environmental and economic issues related to the aeronautic transport, with particular reference to the high-speed one are opening new perspectives to pulsejets and derived pulse detonation engines. Their importance relates to high thrust to weight ratio and low cost of manufacturing with very low energy efficiency. This papers presents a preliminary evaluation in the direction of a new family of pulsejets which can be coupled with both an air compression system which is currently in pre-patenting study and a more efficient and enduring valve systems with respect to today ones. This new pulsejet has bee specifically studied to reach three objectives: a better thermodynamic efficiency, a substantial reduction of vibrations by a multi-chamber cooled architecture, a much longer operative life by more affordable valves. Another objective of this research connects directly to the possibility of feeding the pulsejet with hydrogen.

This paper focuses on the key problem of future aeronautics: which relates on energy efficiency and environmental footprint on a scientific point of view. Reducing emissions and increasing the energy efficiency would be both a key element to propel the market and increase the diffusion of personal aerial transport against ground transportation. Novel vehicle concepts and systems will be necessary to propel this innovation which could revolutionize our way of moving. This paper approaches an energetic preliminary design of a vehicle concept which could fulfill this social and cultural objective. Low cost energy efficient vehicles, which could be suitable for personal use with a high economic efficiency and without needs of airports, seem actually a real dream. Otherwise, is it a feasible goal or a scientific dream? Otherwise, a design method based on first and second law and thermodynamic and constructal law could allow reaching those goals.

Rotocycloid propulsion presents interesting performance as a possible long-term alternative to helicopters in a far future. It will lead to increase the energy efficiency of VTOL vehicles. This paper focuses on optimization of an airship with the possibility up to 2000 h/year of photovoltaic propelled flight at a cruise speed about 20 m/s. This paper demonstrates the feasibility of this airship concept and presents a full dimensioning according to the CDE (Constructal Design for Efficiency) developed at University of Modena and Reggio Emilia. The proposed solution has been deeply analyzed and the analysis of performances has been presented. The results allow thinking to a novel class of vehicles designed specifically to take the maximum advantage by this propulsion method.

The European project MAAT (Multi-body Advanced Airship for Transport) is producing the design of a transportation system for transport of people and goods, based on the cruiser feeder concept. This project defined novel airship concepts capable of handling safer than in the past hydrogen as a buoyant gas. In particular, it has explored novel variable shape airship concepts, which presents also intrinsic energetic advantages. It has recently conduced to the definition of an innovative design method based on the constructal principle, which applies to large transport vehicles and allows performing an effective energetic optimization and an effective optimization for the specific mission.

It is possible to define a novel optimization method, which aims to overcome the traditional Multidisciplinary Design Optimization. It aims to improve Constructal design method to optimize complex systems such as vehicles. The proposed method is based on the constructal principle and it is articulated in different stages: 1 preliminary top-down design process to ensure that the full system has one of the best configurations for the specified goals (contour conditions for constructal optimization could be stated ensuring an effective optimization at full-system level). 2 constructal optimization of the elemental components of the system to maximize the system performances; 3 eventually a competitive comparison between different configurations choosing the better one. The definition of an optimized flying vehicle (an airship) has been produced an example of this improved design method with the objective of minimizing the energy consumption during flight.

This paper presents a mathematical model of the vertical forces acting on an airship during vertical motion. The main effort is the definition of an airship model, which move only vertically by ballast, and buoyancy effects, with a much reduced energy consumption for take-off and landing operations. It has been considered a disc-shaped airship, which can operate using the open balloon airship architecture defined to operate safely with hydrogen. This architecture does not require internal ballonets, because of the connected increased fire dangers that they create even if vented. Several models of airship based on vertical forces have been presented in literature. They often consider only the US or International Standard Atmosphere models and they neglect effects of weather conditions. The latter are connected with the location and with the season.

This paper investigates the ancient idea of augmenting the thrust produced by a rotating fan by producing a thermal gradient by heating the outflow. Some of the pioneers of aeronautics have originally conceived this idea: the indirect jet (Bleriot Coanda Monoplane, 1910) and the “thermojet” (Caproni-Ciampini CC2, 1942). They were abandoned because of the better performances by traditional jets such as the ones developed in Germany and USA during 2nd World War. Antony Colozza (NASA), one of the modern fathers of high altitude airships, has recently proposed it again to be used on fuel cells powered airplanes and airships. Most fuel cells have a large thermal dispersion at high temperature (about 40%), but it could be possible to use it for heating the propulsive stream of high-speed air produced into ducted fan propulsive units.

This paper presents a theoretical model of Coanda attachment mechanisms and laws of the Coanda effect. In this paper, it has been considered a very conventional setup in order to define by a theoretical analysis a mathematical model of the Coanda adhesion. It has been produced a complete mathematical model which could allow simple engineering calculations through an effective solutions of the differential equations of the system. A parametric model has defined as a function of main cinematic and geometric parameters. The final model relates to three fundamental parameters: outlet section, Coanda surfaces radius and inlet velocities. Turbulent and laminar models have defined. Validation through a large CDF campaign has produced in a regime of stream velocities from 5 to 40 m/s with good results.

This paper presents a model of energetic consumption and photovoltaic production for a large airship which acts as feeder connecting the ground with a large cruiser. The analysis of energy needs and productivity allows defining both an ideal sizing and operative mission profiles. The specialised mission of this airship is to ascent and descent. It includes also the connection with the airport buildings on the ground and with the cruiser at high altitude. Photovoltaic production has evaluated in terms of hydrogen and electric propulsion. They have estimated both and a calculation methodology has proposed. The evaluation has supported by CFD evaluations on aerodynamic behaviour of the system at various altitudes.

Most aircraft designers prefer electric engines with open helices rather than ducted fan units. Open propellers often present a higher propulsive efficiency if compared to electric turbofans. High altitudes and rarefied atmosphere evidence this difference. A mathematical model to improve the performances of a ducted fan unit has presented. It aims to align the performances of the two systems by acting on the air intake of the ducted fan. It defines a simplified method for increasing the efficiency of an electric turbofan. It aims to produce a basic and solid mathematical model, which can apply to the study of this propulsion system. CFD simulations have verified the results. Two CFD codes have used to validate the results. An analysis of mesh independence has performed to ensure a better quality of the results. The presented model aims to reach also a methodological result.

This paper explores a novel structural design concept for a demonstrator of a high altitude photovoltaic feeder airship. The presented structural design concept aims to minimize the use of strategic materials in the structure of the airship, but also to maximize the ease of construction of the structure. The proposed design concept and method an effective analysis of historic airship structures considering their efficiency vs. weight and desired performances. By this analysis a novel structural design has been defined to reach the ambitious goal of a lighter and cheaper structure concept which can ensure comparable performances with traditional rigid airships. A discoid shaped airship with a central column has been taken into account. Structural calculations and constructive design has been presented in depth.

This paper presents the new Hydrogen Fire-safe Airship system that overcomes the limitations present in previous airships designs of that kind, when considering their functioning at advanced operative position. Hydrogen is considered to be more effective than helium because of its low-cost production by hydrolysis, which process is nicely driven only by the photovoltaic energy. This paper presents a novel architectural concept of the buoyant balloon designed to increase the fire related safety, when applying hydrogen as the buoyant gas. The proposed buoyant volume is designed as a multi-balloon structure with a naturally ventilated shape, to ensure that hydrogen cannot reach the dangerous concentration level in the central airship balloon. This concept is expected to be the start of a novel hydrogen airship type, to be much safer than preceding ones.

This paper presents a novel concept of acclimatized container to increase people comfort in case of temporary housing. It is based on the ZEBRA concept (Zero Energy Building Renewable Addicted) concept studied by Università of Modena e Reggio Emilia. The original concept developed for industrial building has been extended to mobile metallic housing systems such as the containers transported by trucks which are used for troops and military command during field operations. This system does not require any external source of energy. It requires only the presence of a water well or drilling a hole to place inside a closed loop exchanger which is used to stabilize temperature of internal water which is used as a dynamic thermal barrier which maintains in the wellness conditions inside the mobile housing equipment. Energetic costs of this system are related only to the very reduced energy necessary for water pumping operations.

This paper starting by a previous mathematical model of rotary friction welding by the same authors defines a predictive methodology for a faster setup of rotary friction welding operations by thermal concentrated parameter model which describes temperature as a function of three elemental parameters: time, pressure and torque. It describes present a specific thermal method of calculation and verifies it by experimental data using a very simple experimental setup.