AUTOROTATING WINGS: AN EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION.
Abstract
The autorotation of a flat plate about its spanwise axis was experimentally studied. Most of the work was done with a model mounted on air bearings in a wind tunnel. The flow pattern differed from that over a static wing. The wing did not stall until it was almost perpendicular to the free stream. At Re = 240,000, the maximum lift coefficient was 4.50, with an average value of 2.20, while the maximum drag coefficient was 4.30 with an average value of 1.60. The angular acceleration was small; the wing rotated at an almost constant angular velocity. The wing nondimensional rotation rate approached an asymptotic limit at 0.35. Applying a driving torque to the wing increased the lift and drag, while a retarding torque reduced them. A variety of wing configurations were tested, with no major changes in the autorotation phenomenon. Freely falling wings were studied and behaved in a manner similar to the fixed axis wings for comparable Reynolds numbers. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 1970
- Accession Number
- AD0710288
Entities
People
- Edmund H. Smith
Organizations
- University of Michigan