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Article
Numerical Studies of Helicopter Blade-Vortex Interaction Using Potential Flow Theory
Applied Mathematical Modelling (2012)
  • Patricia X. Coronado Domenge, University of Central Florida
  • Marcel Ilie, Georgia Southern University
Abstract
The blade–vortex interaction (BVI) phenomenon plays a key role in the rotorcraft aerodynamics. Numerical investigations of BVI using classical CFD approaches are computationally expensive. In the present research we propose a numerical approach, based on the potential flow theory, for the numerical investigation of helicopter blade–vortex mechanism of interaction. This approach overcomes the computational expenses posed by the CFD techniques. The influence of vertical miss distance, angle of attack, airfoil camber, and vortex strength on the helicopter blade–vortex mechanism of interaction is subject of investigation. The study reveals that the magnitude of the aerodynamic coefficients decreases with the increase of vertical miss distance and angle of attack, and the decrease of vortex strength and core size.
Keywords
  • Numerical studies,
  • Helicopter,
  • Helicopter blade-vortex,
  • Blade-vortex interaction,
  • Potential flow theory
Publication Date
July, 2012
DOI
10.1016/j.apm.2011.09.055
Citation Information
Patricia X. Coronado Domenge and Marcel Ilie. "Numerical Studies of Helicopter Blade-Vortex Interaction Using Potential Flow Theory" Applied Mathematical Modelling Vol. 36 Iss. 7 (2012) p. 2841 - 2857 ISSN: 0307-904X
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/marcel-ilie/3/