Course
Summary
SEBASTIAN THOMAS
INTRODUCTION TO HELICOPTER AERODYNAMICS
Coming to Terms
Symbol Significance Symbol Significance
A Area of rotor/actuator disk FOM Figure of merit
A∞ Slipstream area far below disk V∞ Freestream velocity
ρ Density of air Vc Climb velocity
vi Induced velocity at disk θ Local twist angle
vh Induced velocity at disk (hover) σ Rotor solidity
w Velocity far below disk Nb Number of blades
T Thrust acting on disk R Rotor radius
P Power needed to create thrust c Local blade chord
DL Disk Loading = T/A λi , λc Non-dim inflow, climb speeds
PL Power Loading = T/P CT , CP Non-dim thrust, power coeffs
INTRODUCTION TO HELICOPTER AERODYNAMICS
Important Non-dimensionalizations
Dimensional Non-dimensional Name Definition
Quantity quantity
vi λi Inflow Ratio λi = vi / Vtip
T CT Thrust Coefficient CT = T / ρA(Vtip)2
P CP Power Coefficient CP = P / ρA(Vtip)3
INTRODUCTION TO HELICOPTER AERODYNAMICS
Momentum
Theory
INTRODUCTION TO HELICOPTER AERODYNAMICS
TIP SPEED THRUST TIP SPEED
INDUCED TORQUE INDUCED
VELOCITY VELOCITY
QUIESCENT
AIR
SLIPSTREAM
INTRODUCTION TO HELICOPTER AERODYNAMICS
Predictions (Hover)
Math Insight
Velocity far below disk is twice the induced
w = 2vi
velocity at the disk
Slipstream sectional area far below disk is half
A∞ = ½A
the disk area
(𝑫𝑳) Induced velocity increases with the square
vi =
𝟐𝝆 root of the disk loading
𝟐𝝆 Rotor efficiency increases when disk loading
PL = (vi)-1 =
(𝑫𝑳) decreases
𝟑
𝑻𝟐 ‘Ideal’ Power required scales with (Thrust)3/2
P= and is inversely proportional to density
𝟐𝝆𝑨
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Predictions (Climb)
Math Insight
Induced velocity far below disk is twice the
w = 2vi
induced velocity at the disk
𝟐 𝟐
Induced velocity decreases with increasing
vi = -½Vc + ½Vc + vh climb velocity
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Predictions (Descent)
Math Insight
Induced velocity far below disk is twice the
w = 2vi
induced velocity at the disk
𝟐 𝟐
Induced velocity decreases with increasing
vi = -½Vc - ½Vc − vh magnitude of descent velocity
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Vc + vi = 0
Vc + 2vi = 0 Vc = 0
3 2
1
1 – Normal Working State
4 2 – Vortex Ring State
3 – Turbulent Wake State
4 – Windmill Break State
INTRODUCTION TO HELICOPTER AERODYNAMICS
Predictions (Forward Flight)
Math Insight
Induced velocity far below disk is
w = 2vi twice the induced velocity at the
disk
𝐯𝐡𝟐 Induced velocity is now predicted by
𝐯𝐢 =
𝐕∞ 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝛂 𝟐 + 𝐕∞ 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝛂 + 𝐯𝐢 𝟐 a transcendental equation
INTRODUCTION TO HELICOPTER AERODYNAMICS
The Asymmetry of
Forward Flight
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Operating point
for an autogiro
INTRODUCTION TO HELICOPTER AERODYNAMICS
Blade
Element
Theory
INTRODUCTION TO HELICOPTER AERODYNAMICS
1
dL = ρU2Clcdy
dFz 2
dL
1
dD = ρU2Cdcdy
2
Z
φ
X
Ωy dFx
φ
φ vi
U dD
dFz = dLcos(φ) – dDsin(φ) X
dFX = dLsin(φ) + dDcos(φ)
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Integrated thrust and
power from BET
1
1
CT = න σClr2dr
2
0
1
1 3
CP = න σr Clλ𝑖 /r + C𝑑 dr
2
0
INTRODUCTION TO HELICOPTER AERODYNAMICS
Fixed-point iterations for finding thrust coefficient for
a given rotor under the assumption of uniform inflow
INTRODUCTION TO HELICOPTER AERODYNAMICS
Profile Power from BET
1
Po = ρNbcR4CdoΩ3
8
1
CPo = (Nbc/πR)Cdo
8
1
CPo = σCdo
8
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Blade Loading from BET
1
T = ρNbcR3(Clmean)Ω2
2
1
CT = (Nbc/πR)Clmean Measure of average
6
angle of attack
1 1
CT = σClmean CT/σ = Clmean
6 6
INTRODUCTION TO HELICOPTER AERODYNAMICS
Figure of Merit (FOM)
• Ratio of ideal power
required for hover actual
power required for hover FOM =
𝐈𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐇𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫
• Unlike power loading, 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐇𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫
FOM is non-dimensional
• Has a value between 0
and 1
INTRODUCTION TO HELICOPTER AERODYNAMICS
How high are
you hovering? How fast are your
FOM Deconstructed blades rotating?
𝟏
FOM = ρV𝐭 𝐢 𝐩
𝟑 𝟐
𝐤+( 4 )
(Clmean/Cdo) DL
How big is your
How uniform is the rotor disk?
flow through the disk?
How efficient are
your airfoil sections?
INTRODUCTION TO HELICOPTER AERODYNAMICS
Blade
Element
Momentum
Theory
INTRODUCTION TO HELICOPTER AERODYNAMICS
BEMT Prediction of
radial inflow variation
Solidity Local twist
−σClα + (σClα)2 +32(σClαθr)
λi =
16
Lift-curve Non-dimensional
slope radial location
To achieve minimum induced loss, the inflow
should be constant across the rotor disk!
INTRODUCTION TO HELICOPTER AERODYNAMICS
Two ways to ensure uniform inflow
Interesting Solution # 1 “Ideal Rotor”
Requirements for an Ideal Rotor
Constant Chord Hyperbolic Twist
Interesting Solution # 2 “Optimum Rotor”
Requirements for an Optimum Rotor
Hyperbolic Chord (Shifted) Hyperbolic Twist
INTRODUCTION TO HELICOPTER AERODYNAMICS
Helicopter
Performance
INTRODUCTION TO HELICOPTER AERODYNAMICS
The Power Economy of a Helicopter
Power required to
support vehicle Power required to
weight overcome viscous
Power required effects on rotor
to climb
Power required by
anti-torque device
Power required to
match vehicle drag Engine
power
INTRODUCTION TO HELICOPTER AERODYNAMICS
The Power Economy of a Helicopter
κ CT 2
1
2 𝜆2 + 𝜇2 CPo = σCdo(1+4.65μ2)
8
CTλc
10% of Main Rotor
1 𝑓 3
( )μ
2 A Engine
power
INTRODUCTION TO HELICOPTER AERODYNAMICS
How Fast Can a Helicopter Go?
Max Speed
Results shown for a
INTRODUCTION TO HELICOPTER AERODYNAMICS representative helicopter
How High Can a Helicopter Fly?
Impossible to Hover at
Altitudes > ~7500 feet
Results shown for a
INTRODUCTION TO HELICOPTER AERODYNAMICS representative helicopter
How Fast Can it Climb?
Max Climb Rate
Hover Service
Ceiling Ceiling
Results shown for a
INTRODUCTION TO HELICOPTER AERODYNAMICS representative helicopter
How Much Payload Can it Carry?
Max Payload
Results shown for a
INTRODUCTION TO HELICOPTER AERODYNAMICS representative helicopter
Thank You
INTRODUCTION TO HELICOPTER AERODYNAMICS
