Development of an Aerodynamic Performance Analysis Module for Rotorcraft Comprehensive Analysis Code

In this study, an aerodynamic performance analysis code has been developed as a part of rotorcraft comprehensive program. Airloads on rotor blades are calculated based on the blade element theory with look-up tables of aerodynamic coefficients of 2-D airfoils. In order to calculate rotor induced inflow, various inflow prediction methods such as linear inflow, dynamic inflow, prescribed wake and free wake model are integrated into the present module. The aerodynamic characteristics of each method are compared and validated against available experimental data such as Elliot`s inflow distribution and sectional normal force coefficients of AH-1G.