Measurements of Small-Scale Propellers Operating in the Vortex Ring State

The behavior of small-scale propellers operating in vertical descent and through the vortex ring state (VRS) was measured. In particular, a total of 26 propellers with varying diameters (9 to 11 in) were tested in the UIUC 2.8 x 4 ft wind tunnel at low Reynolds numbers to measure the propeller thrust over a range of advance ratios from -0.8 to 0. Also, time histories of the measured thrust for different propellers were recorded to characterize the unsteady thrust fluctuations for advance ratios through the vortex ring state. The effects of propeller geometry, e.g. pitch and planform effects, on the thrust characteristics of these propellers in the VRS are discussed. The motivation of this research is to understand better, the phenomenon of VRS observed in helicopter rotors in descent.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Aerospace Engineering

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2011

Author dc:creator

• Shetty, Omkar R.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Selig, Michael S.

• vortex ring state (VRS)
• propeller tests

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2010 Omkar Ravindra Shetty

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/18400

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/18400