Session
2022 session 5
Location
Space Dynamics Laboratory, Auditorium Rm B
Start Date
5-9-2022 11:10 AM
End Date
5-9-2022 11:20 AM
Description
Emerging advances in electric-propulsion technology are enabling aircraft to use distributed electric propulsion (DEP) to increase efficiency and maneuverability. The implementation of DEP effectively decreases the spacing between propellers, introducing complex aerodynamic interactions that are not well understood. This study presents the use of stereoscopic particle image velocimetry (SPIV) to obtain 3D velocity measurements of the flow fields of phase locked and synchronized propellers at close proximity in a side-by-side configuration. These experiments were performed to explore the aerodynamic effect of phase offset between the propellers. It was found that while the propeller interactions cause an induced upwash and a larger wake interaction region, phase offset was seen to have little influence on the averaged wake flow features. The tip vortex trajectories and circulation strengths were altered due to the interacting propellers. The out of phase tip vortex circulation strength is higher than for the in phase, representing a 21% drop when compared to the single case as opposed to the 32% drop for the in phase test.
Aerodynamic Effects of Phase Offset Between Synchronized Propellers in Hover
Space Dynamics Laboratory, Auditorium Rm B
Emerging advances in electric-propulsion technology are enabling aircraft to use distributed electric propulsion (DEP) to increase efficiency and maneuverability. The implementation of DEP effectively decreases the spacing between propellers, introducing complex aerodynamic interactions that are not well understood. This study presents the use of stereoscopic particle image velocimetry (SPIV) to obtain 3D velocity measurements of the flow fields of phase locked and synchronized propellers at close proximity in a side-by-side configuration. These experiments were performed to explore the aerodynamic effect of phase offset between the propellers. It was found that while the propeller interactions cause an induced upwash and a larger wake interaction region, phase offset was seen to have little influence on the averaged wake flow features. The tip vortex trajectories and circulation strengths were altered due to the interacting propellers. The out of phase tip vortex circulation strength is higher than for the in phase, representing a 21% drop when compared to the single case as opposed to the 32% drop for the in phase test.