Aerodynamic Analysis of a Helicopter Fuselage

This paper presents the analysis of the flow around a helicopter fuselage. The numerical simulations were performed with an implicit, parallel Navier-Stokes solver. The numerical accuracy of the solver was investigated by doing a grid study. A mesh optimisation was accomplished to increase the quality of the flow prediction, in particular, the flow topology in the fuselage wake. The results of the numerical simulations were compared with experimental data. To achieve a good mapping of the vortex structures in the wake, a well resolved mesh in this area in combination with a hybrid turbulence model is needed. Based on numerical and experimental results the vortex structure behind the helicopter fuselage is analyzed.