Revolutionizing eVTOL Design: Hidden Ducted Fan Propulsion for Urban Air Mobility

This study investigates the aerodynamic effects of horizontally mounted electric ducted fans (EDFs) placed near the aft section of an airfoil, with potential applications in eVTOL (electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing) systems and other compact aerial platforms. Rather than presenting a complete vehicle design, the research focuses on how EDF placement—specifically at top, middle, and bottom positions relative to the airfoil—affects aerodynamic parameters such as drag, thrust efficiency, and wake behavior. Additionally, the influence of boundary layer ingestion is analyzed by varying the horizontal distance between the fan inlets and the trailing edge, capturing the impact of upper and lower surface boundary layers. A combination of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations and wind tunnel testing will be used to evaluate flow characteristics and performance implications across configurations. The findings aim to provide design insights for future aircraft configurations that seek to integrate propulsion systems more efficiently within the airframe geometry.