Experimental Results of a Propeller/Wing Interaction Study 910998
The aerodynamic interaction between a propeller and a wing is a source of noise and cyclic loading. Swirl and increased axial velocity in a propeller slipstream can lead to improvement in wing performance, conversely wing performance can be degraded by flow separations caused by the propeller slipstream.
Steady state measurements were done on a propeller and a wing in a tractor configuration, to investigate the consequences of mutual interference on overall performance. These measurements revealed that for certain geometries wing lift is enhanced, and wing drag is decreased. A straight forward physical explanation for this wing behavior is offered.
The unsteady nature of the propeller-wing aerodynamic interaction has been studied using flow visualization. Studying the motion of the propeller tip vortex across the wing revealed that: the tip vortex was 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. Not only is this information of vortex motion over a wing of interest from a basic hydrodynamic view, but will aid in the interpretation of future unsteady pressure measurements.
Citation: Johnson, R., Witkowski, D., and Sullivan, J., "Experimental Results of a Propeller/Wing Interaction Study," SAE Technical Paper 910998, 1991, https://doi.org/10.4271/910998. Download Citation
Author(s):
Robert T. Johnson, David P. Witkowski, John P. Sullivan
Pages: 12
Event:
General, Corporate & Regional Aviation Meeting & Exposition
ISSN:
0148-7191
e-ISSN:
2688-3627
Also in:
SAE 1991 Transactions - Aerospace-V100-1
Related Topics:
Wings
Propellers and rotors
Drag
Imaging and visualization
Aerodynamics
Pressure
Noise
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