Abstract
Measurements of the flow field around a free-flying model helicopter in ground effect for both quasi-steady and unsteady maneuvering flights were performed using stereoscopic particle image velocimetry (PIV). The wake features for hover and forward flight at low advance ratios were characterized and changing flow patterns like recirculation and ground flow were observed to be in good agreement with existing wind tunnel data. Parameters describing both general flow patterns and single blade tip vortices were extracted and showed significant dependence on the forward flight velocity. Landing approaches were performed and large vortical structures were observed close to the rotor disk, which contained high amounts of vorticity due to entrained blade tip vortices. The structures developing for unsteady landing approaches contained distinctly higher velocities and momentum fluxes than expected from quasi-steady conditions at the same advance ratios. For a vertical takeoff maneuver with a rapid increase of collective pitch, the bundling of blade tip vortices into a starting vortex with circulation values up to 6 times higher than for a single blade tip was observed. These results show the significance of experimental data on free-flying helicopters in unsteady maneuvering flight because the resulting flow fields cannot be predicted using steady-state experiments or simulations.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.