An experimental measurement on propeller forces and moments at high incidence was introduced. Test apparatus and data reduction process was discussed. Two sets of propellers were tested in SaBRe low speed wind tunnel: Graupner E-prop was used to validate the test-bench against known experiment; The second case, consisting of 3D-printed propellers, demonstrated variations in propeller aerodynamic efforts produced at high incidence angle for various advance ratios and blade pitch angles. The test also highlighted the importance of 3 dimensional effects such as stall delay in estimating propeller forces and moments at high incidence angle.

The paper presents an analytical model for estimation of proprotor aerodynamic loads at elevated incidence angles. Previous theories have concentrated on either small incidence angle for aircraft stability analysis or edge-wise flow for helicopter forward flight. This development attempted an engineering method that covers the full incidence angle range from 0 to π/2. Blade element theory was applied to known proprotor geometry, and off-axis loads including normal force and in-plane moment were obtained in closed form based on thrust and torque in axial condition. The model was found to be sufficiently accurate over a broader flight conditions compared to classical models, and computationally more efficient than numerical methods. Hence it could be easily used as a preliminary design and analysis tool for future convertible aircraft proprotors. The paper further discusses a dedicated wind tunnel campaign on proprotor off-axis load measurement. Experimental data from the test campaign was considered in model validation. The results suggested that the model was capable to accurately estimate proprotor performance in nominal flight regimes.

A reduced-order model to estimate the aerodynamic forces and moments of a propeller at incidence angle from 0 • to 90 • was presented. The objective was to provide an inexpensive and effective approach to analyse propeller performance of a vertical/short take-off and landing aerial vehicle during transition flight. The model was based on blade element theory and was coupled with an extended momentum theory or Pitt & Peters inflow model to include the asymmetrical flow condition. The aerofoil aerodynamic data was provided by an empirical model that extended lift and drag polar to a broad angle-of-attack range suitable in transition flight. Furthermore a rotational stall delay model and a radial flow correction model have been incorporated to include primary 3-dimensional effects. The result has been presented and compared with past experiment and unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes solution under similar conditions.(a) ISAE MAVION [1] (b) Boeing-Bell V-22 Osprey [2]

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Convertible unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) combines advantages of convenient autonomous launch/recovery and efficient long range cruise performance. Successful design of this new type of aircraft relies heavily on good understanding of powered lift generated through propeller-wing interactions, where the velocity distribution within propeller slipstream is critical to estimate aerodynamic forces during hover condition. The present research studied a propeller-wing combination with a plain flap. A 5-hole probe measurement system was built to construct three-dimensional (3D) velocity field at a survey plane after wing trailing edge. The study has found that significant deformation of propeller slipstream was present in the form of opposite transverse displacement on extrados and intrados. The deformation could be enhanced by flap deflections. Velocity differences caused by the slipstream deformation could imply local variation of lift distribution compared to predictions from conventional assumptions of cylindrical slipstream. An analytical method was developed to reasonably estimate the position of deformed slipstream centreline. The research underlined that the mutual aspect of propeller-wing interaction could be critical for low-speed aerodynamic design.