Aerodynamics of large aspect ratio wings with distributed propellers via the vortex-lattice method and high-fidelity simulations

This work presents a study of the aerodynamics of strut-braced Large Aspect Ratio Wings with Distributed Hybrid-Electric Propulsion. It is intended to assess and quantify the ability of lower-fidelity methods such as the Vortex-Lattice Method with actuator discs to address the aerodynamic interaction of non-conventional aircraft configurations. The use of the Vortex-Lattice Method is crucial in the context of multi-disciplinary design and optimisation where many different geometrical configurations and their associated aerodynamic performance needs to be considered in a cost-effective manner. The predictions resulting from the low-fidelity study are compared to the corresponding high-fidelity solutions with actuator disk. Discrepancies between the two approaches are addressed in terms of the flow physics of the air moving around the air frame and propellers.