Application of the Wide-Field Shadowgraph Technique to Helicopters in Forward Flight

A test was conducted to examine the feasibility of using the wide-field shadowgraph method for visualizing the wake of a small-scale helicopter rotor in forward flight. A wide range of test conditions were examined, including thrust and forward speed variations. Shadowgraphs from the side and top of the rotor were obtained. The visibility of the tip vortices using the shadowgraph method was documented for advance ratios up to 0.175. It was demonstrated that shadowgraphs of the rotor wake in forward flight can be used to obtain qualitative and quantitative information about wake geometry, wake/body interactions, and blade/vortex interactions. Video cameras were used for the first time to record the shadowgraphs. These provided several advantages compared to still cameras and greatly enhanced the capabilities of the shadowgraph method.