Devices that Alter the Tip Vortex of a Rotor

Abstract

Small devices were attached near the tip of a hovering rotor blade in order to alter the structure and trajectory of the trailing vortex. Stereo particle image velocimetry (PIV) images were used to quantify the wake behind the rotor blade during the first revolution. A procedure for analyzing the 3D-velocity field is presented that includes a method for accounting for vortex wander. The results show that a vortex generator can alter the trajectory of the trailing vortex and that a major change in the size and intensity of the trailing vortex can be achieved by introducing a high level of turbulence into the core of the vortex.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 01, 2001
Accession Number
ADA407039

Entities

People

  • Chee Tung
  • James T. Heineck
  • Kenneth W. Mcalister

Organizations

  • National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Airframes
  • Convection
  • Coordinate Systems
  • Diffusion
  • Far Field
  • Fixed Wing Aircraft
  • Grids
  • Measurement
  • Near Field
  • Orbits
  • Particle Image Velocimetry
  • Peak Values
  • Shape
  • Statistics
  • Stratified Fluids
  • Three Dimensional
  • Vortex Generators

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Aerodynamics.
  • Fluid Mechanics and Fluid Dynamics.