Propeller-Wing Interaction Prediction for Early Design

Ferraro, Geraldine; Kipouros, Timoleon; Savill, A. M.; Rampurawala, Abdul; Agostinelli, Christian

doi:10.2514/6.2014-0564

“…The effect of the induced tangential velocity on the propeller is similar to the effect of the swirling flow of the propeller slipstream on the wing; it is reported that the upwash region on the wing due to the propeller slipstream induces an increase of the lift, and vice versa for the downwash region [19]. Due to the induced velocity of the vortex on the propeller inflow, there is a loading increase or decreases depend on the upwash or downwash effects, respectively.…”

Section: Influence Of the Vortex On The Tangential Velocity Of Propelmentioning

confidence: 66%

Propeller and inflow vortex interaction: vortex response and impact on the propeller performance

Yang

¹

,

Zhou

²

,

Sciacchitano

³

et al. 2016

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The aerodynamic operating conditions of a propeller can include complex situations where vorticity from sources upstream can enter the propeller plane. In general, when the vorticity enters in a concentrated form of a vortex, the interaction between the vortex and blade is referred to as blade-vortex interaction or BVI. The interaction may affect the propeller performance as well as its noise production. In the present paper, investigations of the interaction of a wing tip vortex generated by a lifting surface upstream of the rotor plane and an eight-bladed propeller are reported. Utilizing two ends of an upstream wing with non-symmetrical airfoil, the rotation of the incoming vortex could be made to co-rotate or to contra-rotate with the propeller. The ensuing velocity fields were quantified with the help of particle image velocimetry (PIV), and the propeller performance was evaluated with the help of a rotating shaft balance (RSB) mounted on the propeller shaft. The results describe the displacement of the vortex core, as it moves through the rotor plane as well as the positive effect on the thrust and torque of the contra-rotating vortex and the opposite of it in the case of the co-rotating vortex. The current research could be applied to analyse the influence of the incoming vortex on the propeller, e.g., ground vortex, tip vortex shed from a control surface, etc. Keywords Vortex flow Á Blade vortex interaction List of symbols D Diameter of propeller, m J Advance ratio of propeller Q Torque of propeller, Nm Q C Torque coefficient R Radius of propeller, m T Thrust of propeller, N T C Thrust coefficient U eq Equilibrium inflow velocity of propeller, m/s U rad Radial velocity, m/s U tan Tangential velocity, m/s U ? Free stream velocity, m/s n Propeller rotating speed, round/s r À Vortex radius in front of the propeller disk, normalized by propeller radius r þ Vortex radius behind the propeller disk, normalized by propeller radius C imp,cor Circulation in the core of the wing tip vortex, normalized by U eq* D x Vorticity, rad/s

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“…Rotating propellers have significant influence on an aircraft aerodynamics and its stability and control due to slipstream and propeller wake effects. The installed propeller performance is altered due to wing upwash as well [21]. The installed configuration should therefore achieve maximum propeller efficiency while minimizing the adverse impacts on aircraft aerodynamics [22].…”

Section: Propeller Performancementioning

confidence: 99%

Computational Study of Propeller Wing Aerodynamic Interaction

Aref

¹

,

Ghoreyshi

²

,

Jirasek

³

et al. 2018

2018 AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting

1

0

1

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Kestrel simulation tools are used to investigate the mutual interference between the propeller and wing of C130J aircraft. Only the wing, nacelles, and propeller geometries are considered. The propulsion system modelled is a Dowty six-bladed R391 propeller mounted at inboard or outboard wing sections in single and dual propeller configurations. The results show that installed propeller configurations have asymmetric blade loadings such that downward-moving blades produce more thrust force than those moving upward. In addition, the influence of installed propeller flow-fields on the wing aerodynamic (pressure coefficient and local lift distribution) are investigated. The installed propeller configuration data are compared with the non-installed case, and the results show that propeller effects will improve the wing's lift distribution. The increase in lift behind the propeller is different at the left and right sides of the propeller. In addition, the propeller helps to delay the wing flow separation behind it for tested conditions of this work. Finally, the results show the capability of Kestrel simulation tools for modeling and design of propellers and investigates their effects over aircraft during conceptual design in which no experimental or flight test data are available yet. This will lead to reducing the number of tests required later.Aerospace 2018, 5, 79 2 of 20 concepts and thus the design of these vehicles would be helped by the early availability of high quality computational models to allow control laws to be defined.Advances in computational modeling of propellers are reported in literature [3]. In a simple manner, propellers may be physically replaced with thin actuator disks using Froude-Rankine momentum theory. This approach assumes an infinite number of thin propeller blades and inviscid flow through the disk. The model then should ensure the mass flow continuity between front and rear faces of disk. Depending on the input thrust and rotational speed, the rear face will have a jump in total pressure, total temperature, and velocity. Advanced computational methods of sliding interfaces, Chimera or overset grids have been used for propeller flow simulations as well [4][5][6][7]. Results of such simulations have compared well with available wind tunnel data. Periodic slipstream unsteadiness has been captured in wing lift and drag, and increased suction peaks at the wing leading edge have also been documented for wing mounted engines. In addition to propeller slipstream interaction with the wing, other components of the aircraft may also be affected by the local unsteadiness depending on relative position of the propeller and the aircraft component. It is well known for traditional single engine aircraft, the wake-fuselage and wake-tail interactions are significant at high power and low airspeed configurations, such as during takeoff. For these conditions, the aircraft experiences a yaw to the left if no control input is made to counter the resultant force. In addition, at high angles of attack, asy...

show abstract

“…The installed propeller performance is altered due to wing upwash as well [21]. The installed configuration should therefore achieve maximum propeller efficiency while minimizing the adverse impacts on aircraft aerodynamics [22].…”

Section: Propeller Performancementioning

confidence: 99%

Computational Study of Propeller–Wing Aerodynamic Interaction

Aref

¹

,

Ghoreyshi

²

,

Jirasek

³

et al. 2018

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Kestrel simulation tools are used to investigate the mutual interference between the propeller and wing of C130J aircraft. Only the wing, nacelles, and propeller geometries are considered. The propulsion system modelled is a Dowty six-bladed R391 propeller mounted at inboard or outboard wing sections in single and dual propeller configurations. The results show that installed propeller configurations have asymmetric blade loadings such that downward-moving blades produce more thrust force than those moving upward. In addition, the influence of installed propeller flow-fields on the wing aerodynamic (pressure coefficient and local lift distribution) are investigated. The installed propeller configuration data are compared with the non-installed case, and the results show that propeller effects will improve the wing's lift distribution. The increase in lift behind the propeller is different at the left and right sides of the propeller. In addition, the propeller helps to delay the wing flow separation behind it for tested conditions of this work. Finally, the results show the capability of Kestrel simulation tools for modeling and design of propellers and investigates their effects over aircraft during conceptual design in which no experimental or flight test data are available yet. This will lead to reducing the number of tests required later.

show abstract

Propeller-Wing Interaction Prediction for Early Design

Cited by 16 publications

References 6 publications

Propeller and inflow vortex interaction: vortex response and impact on the propeller performance

Propeller and inflow vortex interaction: vortex response and impact on the propeller performance

Computational Study of Propeller Wing Aerodynamic Interaction

Computational Study of Propeller–Wing Aerodynamic Interaction

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