Numerical investigation for coupled rotor/ship flowfield using two models based on the momentum source method

Abstract

The coupled rotor/ship flowfield is investigated using the Navier–Stokes solver when the helicopter rotor hovers in the ship’s airwake. The solid rotor model (SRM) and virtual rotor model (VRM) are employed, considering the different types of rotor simulation by the momentum source method. Qualitative and quantitative rotor/ship coupled flowfield analyses are conducted when the rotor hovers at different locations and with different wind-over-deck conditions. The results show that both models effectively reflect the different vortex interactions and velocity distributions in the rotor/ship coupled flowfield, and the discrepancy of velocity magnitudes between the SRM and VRM is kept within 1 m/s under most conditions. Moreover, a comparison is made of computational costs between the SRM with the moving overset mesh method and the VRM during a helicopter vertical shipboard landing. It is shown that the computational time of the VRM is smoother than the SRM by about 10 times. Considering the computational cost, it is more appropriate to use the VRM to conduct coupled flowfield studies in the helicopter/ship dynamic interface.