Summary of low-speed wind tunnel results of several high-speed counterrotation propeller configurations

Abstract

The low speed aerodynamic performance characteristics of several advanced counterrotation pusher propeller configurations with cruise design Mach numbers of 0.72 and 0.80 were investigated in the NASA Low Speed Wind Tunnel. The tests were conducted at Mach numbers representative of the takeoff and landing flight regime. The investigation included: (1) the propeller performance characteristics over a range of blade angle settings and rotational speeds at a Mach number of 0.20; (2) the effect on the propeller performance of varying the axial rotor spacing and mismatching the power and rotational speeds on the propeller rotors; and (3) determining the reverse thrust performance characteristics at Mach numbers of 0.0, 0.10, 0.15 and 0.20. The results of the investigation indicated that the overall low speed performance of the counterrotation propeller configurations was reasonable.