Aerodynamic configuration design of a buoyancy-lifting vehicle in the near-space.

The aerodynamic configurations of a solar powered buoyancy-lifting vehicle in the near-space were investigated using both engineering method and Computational fluid dynamics. The optimized aerodynamic configurations with high lift to drag ratio were obtained by optimization design method respectively, and the differences between two cofigurations from the two methods were analyzed. Experiment study on the aerodynamics configuration was done by cable mounting wind tunnel testing technology, and testing methods in wind tune experiment of high aspect ratio with twofuselages configuration were developed. Aerodynamic performance of the test model in pitching and lateral were analyzed in different Reynolds number. Conclusion of this investigation showed that wind tunnel experiment results and computational results were according well one another and the configuration design methods were validated, experiment results could give technology support to solar powered buoyancy-lifting vehicle system overall design as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]