Numerical Investigation of a Two-Bladed Propeller Inflow at Yaw

Abstract

The development of faster computing power and nonintrusive experimental techniques has allowed for the advancement in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) validation and the greater understanding of aerodynamic conditions previously deemed too extreme to accurately measure. To this end, a numerical study is conducted that focuses on a propeller at yaw. Current low-order methods are reliant upon an accurate inflow profile to determine overall blade loading patterns. To improve such methods, CFD can be used to determine an initial inflow profile from which to conduct additional lower-order calculations. Therefore, to ensure that CFD is able to accurately capture yawed inflow profiles, a validation study is conducted that compares numerical simulations against experiments. Good agreement is found between the two methods, and subsequently the azimuthal variation in skin friction and induced angle of attack, as a result of the yawed conditions, is analyzed.