Experimental results of a propeller/wing interaction study

Abstract

Steady state measurements have been performed on a propellar and a wing in a tractor configuration, to investigate the consequences of mutual interference on overall performance. For certain geometries wing lift is found to be enhanced, and wing drag to be decreased. The unsteady nature of the propeller-wing aerodynamic interaction has been studied using flow visualization. Results obtained indicate that the tip vortex is severed at the wing leading edge, the severed tip vortex filaments shear in a spanwise direction relative to one another, and these displaced filaments deform to reconnect at the trailing edge.