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Results for “INTERFERENCE - PROPELLER BLADES”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 19 records

Theoretical performance of cross-wind axis turbines with results for a catenary vertical axis configuration

A general analysis capable of predicting performance characteristics of cross-wind axis turbines was developed, including the effects of airfoil geometry, support struts, blade aspect ratio, windmill solidity, blade interference and curved flow. The results were compared with available wind tunnel results for a catenary blade shape. A theoretical performance curve for an aerodynamically efficient straight blade configuration was also presented. In addition, a linearized analytical solution applicable for straight configurations was developed. A listing of the computer program developed for numerical solutions of the general performance equations is included in the appendix.

Muraca, R. J.↗

Model Rotor Hover Performance at Low Reynolds Number

Hover performance data from four key experiments has been analyzed in detail to shed some light on model rotor hover performance at low Reynolds number. Each experiment used the simplest blade geometry. The blades were constant chord and untwisted. Three experiments used blades with the NACA 0012 airfoil from root to tip. The NACA 0015 was used in the earliest test. The four experiments provide data spanning a Reynolds number range of 136,500 to 548,700. The specific objective of this report is to ask and answer two questions: 1. Does blade aspect ratio influence hover performance or is rotor solidity the fundamental rotor geometry parameter for practical engineering purposes? ANSWER: Rotor solidity is the fundamental rotor geometry parameter for practical engineering purposes. Any effect of blade aspect ratio appears to be such a secondary variable that its effect lies within the range of experimental error. 2. Is Reynolds number a significant factor in scaling up hover performance to full-scale rotor performance? The answer is twofold. ANSWER: (a) Reynolds number effects on the increase of power with thrust do not appear to be a significant factor for practical engineering purposes, and (b) Reynolds number effects on minimum profile power at or very near zero rotor thrust could not be clearly established primarily because the low torque levels could not be accurately measured with the test equipment used. This has led to significant data scatter. A number of other observations can be made based on the analysis provided herein. For instance: 1. The test matrices used in the four key references contained far too few data points. A collective pitch variation of four or five data points is insufficient to establish experimental accuracy and data repeatability. 2. A common property of the power-versus-thrust (raised to the 3/2 exponent) graphs was that this curve was linear below the onset of blade stall. 3. The blade-to-blade interference at or near zero thrust may, in fact, be creating a turbulent flow field such that the effective Reynolds number at a blade element is considerably greater than what theories using two-dimensional (2D) airfoil properties at a blade element would calculate. 4. Definitive experiments answering the two key questions have yet to be made.

Model Rotor Hover Performance↗

Investigation of the unsteady pressure distribution on the blades of an axial flow fan

The unsteady response of a stator blade caused by the interaction of the stator with the wakes of an upstream rotor was investigated. Unsteady pressure distributions were measured using a blade instrumented with a series miniature pressure transducers. The influence of several geometrical and flow parameters - rotor/stator spacing, stator solidity and stator incidence angle - were studied to determine the unsteady response of the stator to these parameters. A major influence on the stator unsteady response is due to the stator solidity. At high solidities the blade-to-blade interference has a larger contribution. While the range of rotor/stator spacings investigated had a minor influence, the effect of stator incidence angle is significant. The data indicate the existence of an optimum positive incidence which minimizes the unsteady response.

Henderson, R. E.↗

Flutter spectral measurements using stationary pressure transducers

The paper deals with an analysis procedure, based on engine-order sampling, which eliminates effectively the engine harmonics from the overall flutter spectra obtained with a case-mounted static pressure transducer. Qualitative spectral analyses of pressure data, performed on the basis of blade order sampling, are examined. The interference of blade motion with the pressure signal in the steep gradient portion of the blade passage is demonstrated, using optimal displacement spectra. Two methods which remove the contribution of blade motion from the blade-pressure-difference spectra are described.

Kurkov, A. P.↗

Flutter spectral measurements using stationary pressure transducers

Engine-order sampling was used to eliminate the integral harmonics from the flutter spectra corresponding to a case-mounted static pressure transducer. Using the optical displacement data, it was demonstrated that the blade-order sampling of pressure data may yield erroneous results due to the interference caused by blade vibration. Two methods are presented which effectively eliminate this interference yielding the blade-pressure-difference spectra. The phase difference between the differential-pressure and the displacement spectra was evaluated.

Kurkov, A. P.↗

Wind tunnel investigation of an oblique wing transport model at mach numbers between 0.6 and 1.4

Models of three practical oblique-wing transport configurations were tested in the NASA Ames 11 foot wind tunnel. The three configurations used a common forward fuselage, wing, and support system but employed different aft fuselage sections simulating alternate propulsion system installations. These included an integrated propulsion system, pylon-mounted nacelles, and clean (no propulsion system) configuration. The tests were conducted over a Mach number range from 0.6 to 1.4 and at sweep angles from 0 to 60 degrees. The nominal unit Reynolds number was 1.83 million per meter and the angle of attack range was -3 to +6 degrees. The models were mounted in the tunnel by means of a lower blade support system. The interference effects of this lower blade and the flow inclination were determined by using an image blade system and testing the configuration in both the upright and inverted positions.

Black, R. L.↗

Effects of different rub models on simulated rotor dynamics

Using a direct integration, transient response rotor dynamics computer code, the response of turbine engine rotors to two different blade tip - seal interference rub models was studied. The first model, an abradable seal rub model, is based on an energy-loss-per-unit-volume theory (applicable to a ceramic turbine blade tip seal). The second, a smearin model, is based on viscous hydrodynamic theory (applicable to a metallic blade tip seal). The results from these two models were compared with those from a previously studied model based on dry friction theory. The abradable model was very senitive to small changes in the energy per unit volume, and once a threshold was exceeded, the rotor went into a backward whirl. The amplitude seemed to grow without limit. This was similar to the dry friction model when the coefficient of friction exceeded a particular threshold. The smearing model was not as sensitive to small changes in the viscosity, but a threshold viscosity was found. When it was exceeded, the rotor went into backward whirl, but the amplitude seemed to grow to a finite limit.

Kascak, A. F.↗

Support System Effects on the DLR-F6 Transport Configuration in the National Transonic Facility

An experimental investigation of the DLR-F6 generic transport configuration was conducted in the NASA NTF for use in the Drag Prediction Workshop. As data from this experimental investigation was collected, a large difference in drag values was seen between the NTF test and an ONERA test that was conducted several years ago. After much investigation, it was determined that this difference was likely due to a sting effect correction applied to the ONERA data which NTF does not use. This insight led to the present work. In this study, a computational assessment has been undertaken to investigate model support system interference effects on the DLR-F6 transport configuration. The configurations computed during this investigation were the isolated wing-body, the wing-body with the full support system (blade and sting), the wing-body with just the blade, and the wing-body with just the sting. The results from this investigation show the same trends that ONERA saw when they conducted a similar experimental investigation in the S2MA tunnel. Computational results suggest that the blade contributed an interference type of effect, the sting contributed a general blockage effect, and the full support system combined these effects.

Rivers, Melissa B.↗

Incompressible lifting-surface aerodynamics for a rotor-stator combination

Current literature on the three dimensional flow through compressor cascades deals with a row of rotor blades in isolation. Since the distance between the rotor and stator is usually 10 to 20 percent of the blade chord, the aerodynamic interference between them has to be considered for a proper evaluation of the aerothermodynamic performance of the stage. A unified approach to the aerodynamics of the incompressible flow through a stage is presented that uses the lifting surface theory for a compressor cascade of arbitrary camber and thickness distribution. The effects of rotor stator interference are represented as a linear function of the rotor and stator flows separately. The loading distribution on the rotor and stator flows separately. The loading distribution on the rotor and stator blades and the interference factor are determined concurrently through a matrix iteration process.

Ramachandra, S. M.↗

Compressibility effects in the Kemp-Sears Problem

The effects of including compressibility in the Kemp-Sears problem of aerodynamic interference between moving blade rows are examined. Methods of linearized, subsonic, plane, unsteady flow are adopted. The major new effect is that a resonance appears at certain combinations of flow Mach number, tip Mach number, and blade vane ratios. The resonance is at exactly the Tyler-Sofrin cutoff condition for rotor-stator interaction. At such conditions the unsteady lift on a blade row due to externally imposed nonstationary upwash vanishes. However, the resonance appears to be very sharp and seems to be more significant as an indication that around this condition the unsteady lift changes very rapidly.

Mani, R.↗

User's manual for UCAP: Unified Counter-Rotation Aero-Acoustics Program

This is the user's manual for the Unified Counter-rotation Aeroacoustics Program (UCAP), the counter-rotation derivative of the UAAP (Unified Aero-Acoustic Program). The purpose of this program is to predict steady and unsteady air loading on the blades and the noise produced by a counter-rotation Prop-Fan. The aerodynamic method is based on linear potential theory with corrections for nonlinearity associated with axial flux induction, vortex lift on the blades, and rotor-to-rotor interference. The theory for acoustics and the theory for individual blade loading and wakes are derived in Unified Aeroacoustics Analysis for High Speed Turboprop Aerodynamics and Noise, Volume 1 (NASA CR-4329). This user's manual also includes a brief explanation of the theory used for the modelling of counter-rotation.

Culver, E. M.↗

Performance of traffic-alert collision avoidance (TCAS) antennas in the presence of scatterers

The performance of two TCAS systems is studied in the presence of electromagnetic scatterers. TCAS is an aircraft mounted angle of arrival (AOA) system, which estimates the bearing of a signal transmitted from a mode-S transponder on another nearby aircraft (intruder). Two systems are studied: (1) Comparison of Relative Amplitude system (CRA), and (2) Spiral Phase Antenna (SPA). The CRA antenna receives the reply via four switched beams. The bearing is estimated by comparing the amplitudes of the received signal. The SPA is based on the phase interferometer, which utilizes the received phase via sum and difference beams. The AOA is computed by comparing the reply with similar values on a calibration table, which is generated by modeling the TCAS antenna on the bare fuselage of a Boeing 727-200. The antenna patterns for the TCAS are found via high frequency methods based on the Uniform Geometric theory of Diffraction (UTD). By minimizing the standard deviation of the bearing error in a specified angular sector, optimal locations for top and bottom mounted TCAS antennas are found on the Boeing 727-200, 737-300 and 747-200 airframes. It will be shown that the overall bearing errors of the amplitude system are consistently smaller than the spiral phase TCAS. The effect of two types of nearby scatterers--antennas, and engine inlets--is studied. The AT741 L-band blade, DMC60-1 VHF Communication antenna were chosen as being representative antenna interference examples. Models are derived for the blades via a moment method analysis followed by a least squares procedure to synthesize the scattering patterns. Studies were conducted to estimate the minimum separation between the two antennas for acceptable operation. It will be shown that the spiral phase TCAS is adversely affected by the presence of a blade antenna. The amplitude system does not suffer from this limitation, especially for the forward look angles which are of most interest here. A model to represent the inlet scattering is based on the multiple scattering method and UTD. The engine on top of the B727-200 fuselage is modeled by a terminated circular waveguide. Then, the effect of moving the antenna forward on the fuselage is studied. It is again shown that the performance of the amplitude system is superior.

Sampath, K. S.↗

Compressible, unsteady lifting-surface theory for a helicopter rotor in forward flight

A lifting-surface theory has been developed for a helicopter rotor in forward flight for compressible and incompressible flow. The method utilizes the concept of the linearized acceleration potential and makes use of the doublet lattice procedure. Calculations demonstrating the application of the method are given in terms of the lift distribution on a one-bladed rotor, a two-bladed rotor, and a rotor with swept-forward and swept-back tips. Also, the lift on a rotor vibrating in a pitching mode at 4 per revolution is given. Compressibility effects and interference effects for a two-bladed rotor are discussed.

Runyan, H. L.↗

Lifting surface theory for a helicopter rotor in forward flight

A lifting surface theory was developed for a helicopter rotor in forward flight for compressible and incompressible flow. The method utilizes the concept of the linearized acceleration potential and makes use of the vortex lattice procedure. Calculations demonstrating the application of the method are given in terms of the lift distribution on a single rotor, a two-bladed rotor, and a rotor with swept-forward and swept-back tips. In addition, the lift on a rotor which is vibrating in a pitching mode at 4/rev is given. Compressibility effects and interference effects for a two-bladed rotor are discussed.

Tai, H.↗

Lifting surface theory for a helicopter rotor in forward flight

A lifting surface theory was developed for a helicopter rotor in forward flight for compressible and incompressible flow. The method utilizes the concept of the linearized acceleration potential and makes use of the vortex lattice procedure. Calculations demonstrating the application of the method are given in terms of the lift distribution on a single rotor, a two-bladed rotor, and a rotor with swept-forward and swept-back tips. In addition, the lift on a rotor which is vibrating in a pitching mode at 4/rev is given. Compressibility effects and interference effects for a two-bladed rotor are discussed.

Tai, H.↗

Lifting surface theory for a helicopter rotor in forward flight

A lifting surface theory was developed for a helicopter rotor in forward flight for compressible and incompressible flow. The method utilizes the concept of the linearized acceleration potential and makes use of the vortex lattice procedure. Calculations demonstrating the application of the method are given in terms of the lift distribution on a single rotor, a two-bladed rotor, and a rotor with swept-forward and swept-back tips. In addition, the lift on a rotor which is vibrating in a pitching mode at 4/rev is given. Compressibility effects and interference effects for a two-bladed rotor are discussed.

Tai, H.↗

Application of a lifting surface theory for a helicopter in forward flight

A lifting-surface theory has been developed for a helicopter rotor in forward flight for compressible and incompressible flow. The method utilizes the concept of the linearized acceleration potential and makes use of the doublet lattice procedure. Calculations demonstrating the application of the method are given in terms of the lift distribution on a single rotor, a two-bladed rotor, and a rotor with swept-forward and swept-back tips. In addition, the lift on a rotor which is vibrating in a pitching mode at 4/rev is given. Compressibility effects and interference effects for a two-bladed rotor are discussed.

Runyan, Harry L.↗