What: Simulated and experimentally validated the aerodynamic performance of wheel fairings for
a competition aircraft.
Why:
To reduce drag from landing gear and gain hands-on experience using CFD tools and wind tunnel testing
to support design decisions.
How: I performed an angle-of-attack (AOA) sweep in SimScale at 100 ft/s—our
aircraft’s cruise speed—on a landing gear configuration with and without wheel fairings. Simulations predicted a
~6% drag reduction due to the fairings.
To validate these results, the UCLA DBF Aerodynamics team and I manufactured prototype fairings and tested them
in a low-speed wind tunnel. Experimental results showed a 6.42% reduction in drag, closely matching simulations.
Although lift slightly increased, it was effectively offset by the added weight of the fairings.
Results
The validated design was incorporated into UCLA’s final Design Build Fly competition aircraft!