Theoretical and Experimental Investigations of V/STOL Propeller Operation in a Static Condition
Abstract
Successful design of propeller-driven V/STOL aircraft requires precise calculation and associated optimization of propeller performance in static operation. A general theory for performance prediction was formulated based on continuous vortex representation along the lines of a classical lifting-line model. Emphasis was placed on determining a satisfactory force-free approximation to effective pitch of the trailing vortex sheets with the contraction pattern fixed according to a heavily loaded actuator disk theory. Numerical techniques and computer programs were developed to calculate inflow to the propeller and velocity induced along arbitrarily described deformed trailing vortex sheets. In numerical calculations for a series of specific propellers and representative blade loadings, iterations were made on effective pitch variations and inflow. Techniques for gathering and reducing instantaneous hot- wire measurements of wake velocity were developed. Measurements were carried out for two propellers, and nonrepeatable data were obtained in large regions behind the propellers.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1969
- Accession Number
- AD0864117
Entities
People
- John C. Erickson Jr.