Modelling of static aerodynamics of helicopter underslung loads

2011 ◽  
Vol 115 (1166) ◽  
pp. 201-219 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. I. Greenwell

AbstractThe complex aerodynamics of rectangular underslung helicopter loads can lead to severe stability problems, but are difficult to represent in flight dynamics models. Current models for box aerodynamics are highly unsatisfactory, being entirely empirical and requiring large amounts of experimental data to generate. This paper presents a new modelling approach, which takes account of the bluff-body nature of the flow, where loads are dominated by normal pressure forces. Existing experimental data is recast in body-axes form, with α and β replaced by velocity components perpendicular and parallel to the box faces. Force and moment data for a wide range of boxes then collapse onto a set of simple generic characteristics, with features that can be related directly to the underlying flow physics. Modelling of container aerodynamics is greatly simplified, and allowance for effects of turbulence, Reynolds Number, wind tunnel interference and geometry modifications becomes possible.

Author(s):  
David Holst ◽  
Francesco Balduzzi ◽  
Alessandro Bianchini ◽  
Christian Navid Nayeri ◽  
Christian Oliver Paschereit ◽  
...  

Abstract Wind industry needs high quality airfoil data for a range of the angle of attack (AoA) much wider than that often provided by the technical literature, which often lacks data i.e. in deep- and post-stall region. Especially in case of vertical axis wind turbines (VAWTs), the blades operate at very large AoAs, which exceed the range of typical aviation application. In a previous study, some of the authors analyzed the trend of the lift coefficient of a NACA 0021 airfoil, using the suggestions provided by detailed CFD analyses to correct experimental data at low Reynolds numbers collected in an open-jet tunnel. In the present study, the correction method is extended in order to analyze even the drag and moment coefficients over a wide range of AoAs for two different Reynolds numbers (Re = 140k and Re = 180k) of particular interest for small wind turbines. The utility of these data is again specifically high in case of VAWTs, in which both the drag and the moment coefficient largely contribute to the torque. The investigation involves tunnel data regarding both static polars and dynamic sinusoidal pitching movements at multiple reduced frequencies. Concerning the numerical simulations, two different computational domains were considered, i.e. the full wind tunnel and the open field. Once experimental data have been purged by the influence of the wind tunnel by means of the proposed correction method, they were compared to existing data for similar Reynolds both for the NACA0021 and for similar airfoils. By doing so, some differences in the static stall angle and the extent of the hysteresis cycle are discussed. Overall, the present paper provides the scientific community with detailed analysis of low-Reynolds NACA 0021 data in multiple variations, which may enable, inter alia, a more effective VAWT design in the near future.


Author(s):  
N. M. Brown ◽  
F. C. Lai

Numerical simulations have been performed to study the effects of size and slip coefficient of a porous manifold on the thermal stratification in a storage tank. The model is used to predict the development of flow and temperature fields during a charging process. Computations have covered a wide range of the Grashof number (1.8 × 105 < Gr < 1.8 × 108) and Reynolds number (10 ≤ Re ≤ 104), or in terms of the Richardson number, 10−2 < Ri < 105. The results obtained compare favorably well with the experimental data. In addition, the present results have confirmed the effectiveness of porous manifold in the promotion of thermal stratification and provide useful information for the design of such system.


2016 ◽  
Vol 802 ◽  
pp. 726-749 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. D. Brackston ◽  
J. M. García de la Cruz ◽  
A. Wynn ◽  
G. Rigas ◽  
J. F. Morrison

A specific feature of three-dimensional bluff body wakes, flow bistability, is a subject of particular recent interest. This feature consists of a random flipping of the wake between two asymmetric configurations and is believed to contribute to the pressure drag of many bluff bodies. In this study we apply the modelling approach recently suggested for axisymmetric bodies by Rigaset al.(J. Fluid Mech., vol. 778, 2015, R2) to the reflectional symmetry-breaking modes of a rectilinear bluff body wake. We demonstrate the validity of the model and its Reynolds number independence through time-resolved base pressure measurements of the natural wake. Further, oscillating flaps are used to investigate the dynamics and time scales of the instability associated with the flipping process, demonstrating that they are largely independent of Reynolds number. The modelling approach is then used to design a feedback controller that uses the flaps to suppress the symmetry-breaking modes. The controller is successful, leading to a suppression of the bistability of the wake, with concomitant reductions in both lateral and streamwise forces. Importantly, the controller is found to be efficient, the actuator requiring only 24 % of the aerodynamic power saving. The controller therefore provides a key demonstration of efficient feedback control used to reduce the drag of a high-Reynolds-number three-dimensional bluff body. Furthermore, the results suggest that suppression of large-scale structures is a fundamentally efficient approach for bluff body drag reduction.


Coatings ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
pp. 464 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mitsugu Hasegawa ◽  
Hirotaka Sakaue

The biomimicry of using a hair-like structure is introduced as a drag reduction coating. The hair-like structure consists of an array of microfiber that is introduced as a passive drag reduction device. An effective flow control for a transition delay or a flow attachment is expected via an interaction or counteraction of flexible fibers, compared to the existing passive methods that use a solid or rigid surface device. The effect of the microfiber coating on drag reduction over a bluff-body was experimentally investigated using a circular cylinder in a wind tunnel at Reynolds number of 6.1 × 104. A drag reduction of 32% was obtained when the microfiber coating with a length of 0.012D was located at 40° from the stagnation point. Smoke flow visualization showed that flow separation delay was induced by the microfiber coating when the drag reduction occurred.


2014 ◽  
Vol 493 ◽  
pp. 192-197 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wawan Aries Widodo ◽  
Randi Purnama Putra

Many studies related with characteristics of fluid flow acrossing in a bluff body have been conducted. The aim of this research paper was to reduce pressure drop occuring in narrow channels, in which there was a circular cylindrical configuration with square cylinder as disturbance body. Another goal of this research was to reduce the drag force occuring in circular cylinder. Experimentally research of flow characteristics of the wind tunnel had a narrow channel a square cross-section, with implemenred of Reynolds number based on the hydraulic diameter from 5.21x104 to 1.56x105. Wind tunnel that was used had a 125x125mm cross-sectional area and the blockage ratio 26.4% and 36.4%. Specimen was in the form of circular cylinder and square cylinder as disturbance body. Variation of angle position was the inlet disturbance body with α = 200, 300, 400, 500 and 600, respectively. The results was obtained from this study was Reynolds Number value was directly linear with pressure drop there, it was marked by increasing of Reynolds number, the value was also increasing pressure drop. Additional information was obtained by adding inlet disturbance body shaped of square cylinder on the upstream side of the circular cylinder that could reduce pressure drop in the duct and reduce drag happening on a circular cylinder. The position of the optimum angle to reduce pressure drop and drag force was found on the inlet disturbance body with angle α = 300.


Mathematics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 1057
Author(s):  
Gemunu H. Gunaratne ◽  
Sukesh Roy

In this paper, we introduce a model-free algorithm, robust mode analysis (RMA), to extract primary constituents in a fluid or reacting flow directly from high-frequency, high-resolution experimental data. It is expected to be particularly useful in studying strongly driven flows, where nonlinearities can induce chaotic and irregular dynamics. The lack of precise governing equations and the absence of symmetries or other simplifying constraints in realistic configurations preclude the derivation of analytical solutions for these systems; the presence of flow structures over a wide range of scales handicaps finding their numerical solutions. Thus, the need for direct analysis of experimental data is reinforced. RMA is predicated on the assumption that primary flow constituents are common in multiple, nominally identical realizations of an experiment. Their search relies on the identification of common dynamic modes in the experiments, the commonality established via proximity of the eigenvalues and eigenfunctions. Robust flow constituents are then constructed by combining common dynamic modes that flow at the same rate. We illustrate RMA using reacting flows behind a symmetric bluff body. Two robust constituents, whose signatures resemble symmetric and von Karman vortex shedding, are identified. It is shown how RMA can be implemented via extended dynamic mode decomposition in flow configurations interrogated with a small number of time-series. This approach may prove useful in analyzing changes in flow patterns in engines and propulsion systems equipped with sturdy arrays of pressure transducers or thermocouples. Finally, an analysis of high Reynolds number jet flows suggests that tests of statistical characterizations in turbulent flows may best be done using non-robust components of the flow.


2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 390-402
Author(s):  
Yanán Camaraza-Medina

This paper presents the main results of the research developed by the author in his postdoctoral investigations on heat transfer calculations during film condensation inside tubes. The elements studied are combined in an analysis expression that provides a reasonable fit with the available experimental data, which includes a total of 22 fluids, including water, refrigerants and a wide range of organic substances, which condense inside horizontal, inclined and vertical tubes. These experimental data were obtained from the reports of 33 sources. Available data covers tube diameters from 2 to 50 mm, mass flow rates from 3 to 850 kg/(m2s), reduced pressures ranging from 0.0008 to 0.91, values for single-phase from 1 to , Reynolds number for two-phase from 900 to 594390, Reynolds number for single-phase from 65 to 84950 and vapor quality from 0.01 to 0.99. The mean deviation found for the analyzed data for horizontal tubes was 13.4%, while for the inclined and vertical tubes data the mean deviation was 14.9%. In all cases, the agreement of the proposed model is good enough to be considered satisfactory for practical design.


2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 66-74
Author(s):  
Sergey Mironov ◽  
Tatyana Poplavskaya ◽  
Stanislav Kirilovskiy

Measurements of air filtration rate through the highly porous cellular materials in the presence of heating a porous material were carried out. A new measurement technique was developed and data of the dependence of the filtration rate of the temperature of air passing through the porous material were obtained with different pore size and in wide range Reynolds number. The experimental data were compared with the results of numerical modeling of the airflow in the porous samples, based on skeletal model of the cellular-porous material.


2017 ◽  
Vol 121 (1240) ◽  
pp. 835-857 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. MacNeill ◽  
D. Verstraete

ABSTRACTPropellers are the predominant propulsion source for small unmanned aerial vehicles. At low advance ratios, large sections of the propeller blade can be stalled, and the Reynolds number faced by each blade can be low. This leads to difficulties in modelling propeller performance, as the aerodynamic models coupled with blade element methods usually only provide aerodynamic data for an assumed aerofoil section, for a small angle-of-attack range and for a single Reynolds number, while rotational effects are often ignored. This is specifically important at low advance ratios, and a consistent evaluation of the applicability of various methods to improve aerodynamic modelling is not available. To provide a systematic appraisal, three-dimensional (3D) scanning is used to obtain the aerofoil sections that make up a propeller blade. An aerodynamic database is formed using each extracted aerofoil section, across a wide range of angles of attack and Reynolds numbers. These databases are then modified to include the effects of rotation. When compared with experimental results, significant improvement in modelling accuracy is shown at low advance ratios relative to a generic blade element-momentum model, particularly for smaller propellers. Notably, when considering small propeller performance, efficiency modelling is improved from within 30% relative to experimental data to within 5% with the use of the extended blade element momentum theory method. The results show that combining Viterna and Corrigan flat plate theory with the Corrigan and Schillings stall delay model consistently yields the closest match with experimental data.


Solar Energy ◽  
2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. M. Brown ◽  
F. C. Lai

A numerical model has been developed to study the effects of a porous manifold on thermal stratification in a storage tank. The model is used to predict the development of flow and temperature fields during a charging process. Computations have covered a wide range of the Grashof number (1.8 × 105 < Gr < 1.8 × 108) and Reynolds number (10 ≤ Re ≤ 104), or in terms of the Richardson number, 0.1 < Ri < 105. The results obtained compare favorably well with the experimental data. In addition, the present results have confirmed the effectiveness of porous manifold in the promotion of thermal stratification and provide useful information for the design of such system.


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