Pusher-Propeller Blade Loading With and Without Pylon Trailing-Edge Blowing

Abstract

The aerodynamic interaction effects characteristic of pusher propellers were studied at the Large Low-Speed Facility of the German-Dutch wind tunnels (DNW-LLF). A propeller model was positioned downstream of a pylon equipped with a trailing-edge blowing system. Surface-pressure transducers integrated into the propeller blades confirmed the local impact of the pylon wake on the blade loads. At an intermediate thrust setting, the sectional lift impulsively increased by 30% during the wake passage. The application of pylon blowing decreased the integral velocity deficit in the pylon wake by up to 77% compared to the unblown case. As a result, the load fluctuations during the wake encounter were practically eliminated, thereby mitigating the adverse installation effects.