Our goal in this group project was to design a drone with all the necessary parts for real-life use. Within the structure we included a raspberry pi, a brushless motor, a camera, and four propellers (each with their according prop guard).
After designing and modeling with SOLIDWORKS the assembly of all the parts, we did a structural, CFD and motion analysis.
DESIGNING AND MODELING
In this analysis, we first assumed that the structure was composed of the material PP Homopolymer. While this is not the exact material used in the 3D printed model, PP Homopolymer characteristics are similar enough to the PLA used in the model. In the simulation, we assumed that there were four evenly distributed loads located where each of the DC motors are in the full assembly. We made this assumption since this is where most of the weight is distributed, and when the motors are running, the propellers create additional downward thrust that places an even higher load at these sites.
STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS
To perform the CFD analysis, the propeller was first loaded into solidworks. Then, a cylinder was created around it to define the fluid being analyzed around it. Then, using flow trajectory simulation, setting simulation boundaries and resolution, air was simulated interacting with the propeller at 9000 rpm. Using various analysis features of Solidworks, we were able to see the pressure and velocity fields.
COMPUTATIONAL FLUID DYNAMICS (CFD) ANALYSIS
Fluid flow around propellers
Velocity contours (side)
Pressure contours (side)
Velocity contours (top)
Pressure contours (top)