Experimental investigation of the effect of yaw angle on the inflow of a two-bladed propeller

Zarev, A. and Green, R. (2020) Experimental investigation of the effect of yaw angle on the inflow of a two-bladed propeller. Aerospace Science and Technology, 103, 105940. (doi: 10.1016/j.ast.2020.105940)

Abstract

An experimental investigation has been performed to measure the inflow of a two-bladed propeller. This is conducted over a range of advance ratios (J =0.36 to 1.54) and yaw angles (γ = 0 to 20◦) at a Reynolds number of Re ≈ 111000, based on the chord length and advancing blade resultant velocity at the 70% spanwise position. Drawing on experimental results, three major qualitative trends are observed, that characterise the axial induced inflow of inclined propellers: the formation of an approximately sinusoidal inflow trend around the azimuth featuring broad regions of increased and reduced inflow, an azimuthal phase shift of the trend from the advancing and retreating blade positions, and the dependencies of the inflow maxima, minima and phase shift on advance ratio, yaw angle and radial position. These are subsequently compared against two widely used assumptions for calculating the aerodynamic environment of inclined propellers; firstly, that inflow at each radial and azimuthal element is calculated using an axial approximation of the whole propeller disc operating within the same condition as that element, and secondly, uniform induced inflow across the entire propeller plane. The comparison demonstrates the limitations of said assumptions by highlighting their inability to account for components of the trailed and shed vortical systems of the propeller wake.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: This research was supported by the Aircraft Research Association.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Green, Dr Richard and Zarev, Mr Angel
• Authors: Zarev, A., and Green, R.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Autonomous Systems and Connectivity
• Journal Name: Aerospace Science and Technology
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 1270-9638
• ISSN (Online): 1626-3219
• Published Online: 12 June 2020
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2020 Crown Copyright
• First Published: First published in Aerospace Science and Technology 103: 105940
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy
• Data DOI: 10.5525/gla.researchdata.969

Project Code	Award No	Project Name	Principal Investigator	Funder's Name	Funder Ref	Lead Dept
190699		National Wind Tunnel Facility	Frank Coton	Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)	EP/L024888/1	ENG - Aerospace Sciences