Computation of non-linear acoustics in two-dimensional blade-vortex interactions

The propagation characteristics of the interaction between a vortex and a helicopter airfoil are investigated by a variety of methods, and a comparison is made between solutions to the linearized transonic small disturbance equation, transonic small disturbance equation, Euler equations, and Navier-Stokes equations. Although the first two methods are able to accurately predict the propagation of acoustic waves, they are unable to accurately describe the initial formation of acoustic waves. The Euler and Navier-Stokes equations are shown to be well suited to the investigation of acoustic waves and give approximately the same results.