Improving the Efficiency of Fixed-Wing Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Through the Enhancement of Aerodynamic and Mechanical Structures
Abdykadyrov A. Ibekeyev S. Analiyeva A. Izbairova A. Altayeva Z. Torekul A. Taissariyeva K. Imasheva G. Abdullaeva A. Kystaubayev N.
March 2026Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)
Applied Sciences (Switzerland)
2026#16Issue 5
This paper presents a comprehensive study aimed at improving the efficiency of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) through the enhancement of their aerodynamic and mechanical structures. The research is based on coupled computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and finite element analysis (FEA). The airflow around the UAV was modeled using the Navier–Stokes equations, while the structural behavior was described by the equations of linear elasticity. A UAV configuration with a wingspan of 1.8 m and a mass-optimized structure was investigated for flight speeds in the range of 10–35 m/s and angles of attack from −5° to +15°. The results of the aerodynamic optimization, including airfoil thickness variation and smoothing of the wing–fuselage junction, showed a reduction in the drag coefficient by 9–12% and an increase in the lift-to-drag ratio by up to 11% in the cruise regime. The structural optimization based on replacing aluminum with a carbon-fiber composite material led to a reduction in the structural mass by 13–16%, a reduction in the structural strength criterion value by 18–22%, as confirmed by the Tsai–Wu failure analysis, and a reduction in wing-tip deflection by 20–25% under 3 g and 5 g load cases, while satisfying strength and stiffness requirements. The obtained results demonstrate that the proposed integrated aerodynamic and structural optimization approach significantly improves the overall performance, efficiency, and operational reliability of UAV systems.
aerodynamic optimization , CFD , composite materials , drag reduction , FEA , flight efficiency , strength-to-weight ratio , structural optimization , unmanned aerial vehicle
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Department of Electronics, Telecommunications, and Space Technologies, Satbayev University, Satpayev Street, 22, Almaty, 050013, Kazakhstan
Department of Computer Engineering, Almaty Technological University, Tole Bi 100, Almaty, 050012, Kazakhstan
Department of Technical Disciplines, Kazakhstan University Innovation and Telecommunications Systems, Mametova Street, 81, Uralsk, 090009, Kazakhstan
School of Transport Engineering and Logistics Named After M. Tynyshpayev, Satbayev University, Satpayev Street, 22, Almaty, 050013, Kazakhstan
Department of Radio Engineering and Telecommunications, ALT University Named After M. Tynyshpaeva, Shevchenko Street 97, Almaty, 050013, Kazakhstan
Department of Cybersecurity, Information Processing and Storage, Satbayev University, Satpayev Street, 22, Almaty, 050013, Kazakhstan
Department of Electronics
Department of Computer Engineering
Department of Technical Disciplines
School of Transport Engineering and Logistics Named After M. Tynyshpayev
Department of Radio Engineering and Telecommunications
Department of Cybersecurity
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