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Internal combustion modelling for aerospace applications
1
Department of Smart and Systems Engineering, University of South Africa, South Africa
2
Department of Physics, University of South Africa, South Africa
Submission date: 2026-02-06
Final revision date: 2026-03-09
Acceptance date: 2026-04-10
Online publication date: 2026-06-12
Corresponding author
Lionel Dongmo Fouellefack
Department of Smart and Systems Engineering, University of South Africa, South Africa
Department of Smart and Systems Engineering, University of South Africa, South Africa
KEYWORDS
Unmanned Aerial VehicleInternal Combustion EngineBrake Specific Fuel ConsumptionFuel FlowManifold Air Pressure
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
A model of an Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) was created using Simulink, which could be used as part of a drive component of the propulsion system during the development stage of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)/Aircraft. The model can predict the engine power, engine torque, Engine brake specific fuel consumption, and engine fuel flow of an ICE for a given engine throttle, engine atmospheric pressure, engine rotational speed, temperature, and altitude at which the UAV is flying. Results obtained from the model were compared with results obtained by previous researchers from the literature. The engine power, torque, fuel flow, and brake specific fuel consumption curves from simulations were found to be in good agreement with those obtained by previous researchers experimentally.
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