3-D Navier-Stokes Analysis of Blade Root Aerodynamics for a Tiltrotor Aircraft In CruiseThe blade root area of a tiltrotor aircraft's rotor is constrained by a great many factors, not the least of which is aerodynamic performance in cruise. For this study, Navier-Stokes CFD techniques are used to study the aerodynamic performance in cruise of a rotor design as a function of airfoil thickness along the blade and spinner shape. Reducing airfoil thickness along the entire blade will be shown to have the greatest effect followed by smaller but still significant improvements achieved by reducing the thickness of root airfoils only. Furthermore, altering the shape of the spinner will be illustrated as a tool to tune the aerodynamic performance very near the blade root.
Document ID
20070017932
Acquisition Source
Ames Research Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Romander, Ethan (NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)