Sailfish Aerodynamics Incorporated in Hybrid Aircraft

Votes: 2
Views: 8370

This project focuses primarily on the Sailfish Aerodynamics. The idea is to use the shape of the sailfish in a hybrid energy aircraft. The Sailfish (Istiophorus platypterus) is the fastest fish in the world with a speed of 68 mph (108.8 Km/h). Its body has a unique shape which is the lowest drag producing shape in nature. The conclusion was reached by observing the other high speed fishes - Marlin (50 mph) and Swordfish (60 mph).Conventional passenger aircraft use a round-body fuselage, which reduces the efficiency and causes noise pollution. Though developments in reducing the drag induced by the wing and winglets are extensive, the fuselage is often left out. About 15.54% drag produced by the A-380 is because of the fuselage. In Boeing 787-8 the drag contribution rises to 23%.

One of the very few researches done on the sailfish is the research on the skin drag produced in the sailfish reveals that the protrusions on its skin in fact increases the drag. This fact strengthens the assumption that its sleek shape is the major drag reducing factor. A series of CFD analyses performed has confirmed the same.

ADVANTAGES:

ECONOMIC
•Fuel Efficiency- Drag reduction increases fuel efficiency.
•More passengers can be accommodated due to the shape of fuselage.
ENVIRONMENTAL
•Lesser emissions
•Noise reduction- Drag reduction
SOCIAL
•Quieter airports
•Quieter skies
PASSENGER COMFORT
•First class and business class has more space- attracting customers
•Quite cabin
•The peculiar shape of the sailfish allows room for more passenger comfort through
•choice of seating configurations i.e. 2-1, 3-3, 2-3-2.
•choice of seats for tall, fat passengers i.e. seats with different widths can be accommodated.

MANUFACTURING OF THE FUSELAGE
• Structure-The height to width ratio of the fuselage is comparable with A380. This model has a varying width throughout the length of the fuselage. So the existing practices can be employed.
• The skin is to be made of composites.

MARKETING

Marketing can be done focusing on three main points
• Fuel efficiency will be a major attraction for the potential buyers- the airliners.
• The better options,comfort,lower costs will attract the passengers- based on survey conducted by us. (70% supported)
• Quieter skies and airports.

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  • ABOUT THE ENTRANT

  • Name:
    Sobin Santhosh
  • Type of entry:
    team
    Team members:
    SOBIN SANTHOSH
    KORAH JACOB
    HENRY ISAAC
    AVINASH K V
    AAKRITI SACHDEV
  • Profession:
    Student
  • Sobin's hobbies and activities:
    Photography
    Research
    Movies
  • Sobin belongs to these online communities:
    AIAA
  • Sobin is inspired by:
    We are a group of engineering students from diverse fields working for a common purpose - betterment of life on earth.
    We engineer. We innovate.
  • Software used for this entry:
    CATIA
  • Patent status:
    none