Two dimensional blade-vortex interaction flow visualization study

Blade-vortex interaction occurs when a rotor blade encounters the tip vortex from a previous rotor blade. To obtain details of the close encounter process, the results from a flow visualization study of an airfoil representing a rotor blade in the wake of an oscillating airfoil serving as a vortex generator are described. A distinguishing feature of this study is that the vortex filament is oriented parallel to the blade span, orthogonal to the test section free stream velocity. This orientation simulates the case of two-dimensional blade-vortex interaction, which is known to produce the most impulsive and most intensive BVI noise. Photographic data are examined to deduce qualitative and quantitative details of the close encounter interaction process with emphasis on structural changes in the vortex filament and its trajectory.