Preliminary Finite Element Analysis and Flight Simulations of a Modular Drone Built through Fused Filament Fabrication

This paper discusses the architecture and preliminary design of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), whose actual operative scenario and required performances drive its flying configuration. The UAV is a multirotor and can be adapted to be used as a tricopter, a quadcopter, a hexacopter, and an octocop...

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Autores principales:	Salvatore Brischetto, Roberto Torre
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	MDPI AG 2021
Materias:	multilayered polymeric parts finite element analysis UAV drone multirotor additive manufacturing Technology T Science Q
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/819634a45d2342fa81f4be89fac0fe4c
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id	oai:doaj.org-article:819634a45d2342fa81f4be89fac0fe4c
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spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:819634a45d2342fa81f4be89fac0fe4c2021-11-25T18:03:13ZPreliminary Finite Element Analysis and Flight Simulations of a Modular Drone Built through Fused Filament Fabrication10.3390/jcs51102932504-477Xhttps://doaj.org/article/819634a45d2342fa81f4be89fac0fe4c2021-11-01T00:00:00Zhttps://www.mdpi.com/2504-477X/5/11/293https://doaj.org/toc/2504-477XThis paper discusses the architecture and preliminary design of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), whose actual operative scenario and required performances drive its flying configuration. The UAV is a multirotor and can be adapted to be used as a tricopter, a quadcopter, a hexacopter, and an octocopter: the number (and consequent arrangement) of the arms modify its performance. Customization is combined with the concept of additive manufacturing, as all components are designed to be produced in Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF). This approach does not limit the application scenarios of the drone; it is instead a further push in the direction of customization, as it permits continuous upgrades over time. The paper simulates four scenarios and discusses how to optimize performances such as payload, thrust-to-weight ratio, efficiency, flight time, and maximum speed through suitable configurations. Avionic components already available on the market integrate into a customizable and adaptable frame. This analysis reveals the most severe conditions for the structure, and conducts a structural validation of its performance. Validating the functional use of FFF-produced parts is challenging due to the anisotropic behavior of the parts. However, some structural elements are thin-walled and enjoy being printed with a 100% linear infill. A simplified approach to those elements has already been proposed and validated through a parallel with UniDirectional Composites, whose 2D testing procedures and methodologies have been derived and adapted. An FEA of some elements of the frame is conducted, using shell elements to discretize the geometry. A proper definition of their mechanical response is possible because the constitutive model is not isotropic a priori but reflects the behavior of the finished parts. The tensile strength variability in the material reference system is high: a component-by-component comparison proves the design to be adequate and measured to the surrounding conditions; however, it highlights the absence of a defined failure criterion.Salvatore BrischettoRoberto TorreMDPI AGarticlemultilayered polymeric partsfinite element analysisUAVdronemultirotoradditive manufacturingTechnologyTScienceQENJournal of Composites Science, Vol 5, Iss 293, p 293 (2021)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	multilayered polymeric parts finite element analysis UAV drone multirotor additive manufacturing Technology T Science Q
spellingShingle	multilayered polymeric parts finite element analysis UAV drone multirotor additive manufacturing Technology T Science Q Salvatore Brischetto Roberto Torre Preliminary Finite Element Analysis and Flight Simulations of a Modular Drone Built through Fused Filament Fabrication
description	This paper discusses the architecture and preliminary design of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), whose actual operative scenario and required performances drive its flying configuration. The UAV is a multirotor and can be adapted to be used as a tricopter, a quadcopter, a hexacopter, and an octocopter: the number (and consequent arrangement) of the arms modify its performance. Customization is combined with the concept of additive manufacturing, as all components are designed to be produced in Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF). This approach does not limit the application scenarios of the drone; it is instead a further push in the direction of customization, as it permits continuous upgrades over time. The paper simulates four scenarios and discusses how to optimize performances such as payload, thrust-to-weight ratio, efficiency, flight time, and maximum speed through suitable configurations. Avionic components already available on the market integrate into a customizable and adaptable frame. This analysis reveals the most severe conditions for the structure, and conducts a structural validation of its performance. Validating the functional use of FFF-produced parts is challenging due to the anisotropic behavior of the parts. However, some structural elements are thin-walled and enjoy being printed with a 100% linear infill. A simplified approach to those elements has already been proposed and validated through a parallel with UniDirectional Composites, whose 2D testing procedures and methodologies have been derived and adapted. An FEA of some elements of the frame is conducted, using shell elements to discretize the geometry. A proper definition of their mechanical response is possible because the constitutive model is not isotropic a priori but reflects the behavior of the finished parts. The tensile strength variability in the material reference system is high: a component-by-component comparison proves the design to be adequate and measured to the surrounding conditions; however, it highlights the absence of a defined failure criterion.
format	article
author	Salvatore Brischetto Roberto Torre
author_facet	Salvatore Brischetto Roberto Torre
author_sort	Salvatore Brischetto
title	Preliminary Finite Element Analysis and Flight Simulations of a Modular Drone Built through Fused Filament Fabrication
title_short	Preliminary Finite Element Analysis and Flight Simulations of a Modular Drone Built through Fused Filament Fabrication
title_full	Preliminary Finite Element Analysis and Flight Simulations of a Modular Drone Built through Fused Filament Fabrication
title_fullStr	Preliminary Finite Element Analysis and Flight Simulations of a Modular Drone Built through Fused Filament Fabrication
title_full_unstemmed	Preliminary Finite Element Analysis and Flight Simulations of a Modular Drone Built through Fused Filament Fabrication
title_sort	preliminary finite element analysis and flight simulations of a modular drone built through fused filament fabrication
publisher	MDPI AG
publishDate	2021
url	https://doaj.org/article/819634a45d2342fa81f4be89fac0fe4c
work_keys_str_mv	AT salvatorebrischetto preliminaryfiniteelementanalysisandflightsimulationsofamodulardronebuiltthroughfusedfilamentfabrication AT robertotorre preliminaryfiniteelementanalysisandflightsimulationsofamodulardronebuiltthroughfusedfilamentfabrication
_version_	1718411690196860928

Preliminary Finite Element Analysis and Flight Simulations of a Modular Drone Built through Fused Filament Fabrication

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