A framework for CFD analysis of helicopter rotors in hover and forward flight

A framework is described and demonstrated for CFD analysis of helicopter rotors in hover and forward flight. Starting from the Navier–Stokes equations, the paper describes the periodic rotor blade motions required to trim the rotor in forward flight (blade flapping, blade lead-lag and blade pitching) as well as the required mesh deformation. Throughout, the rotor blades are assumed to be rigid and the rotor to be fully articulated with separate hinges for each blade. The employed method allows for rotors with different numbers of blades and with various rotor hub layouts to be analysed. This method is then combined with a novel grid deformation strategy which preserves the quality of multi-block structured, body-fitted grids around the blades. The coupling of the CFD method with a rotor trimming approach is also described and implemented. The complete framework is validated for hovering and forward flying rotors and comparisons are made against available experimental data. Finally, suggestions for further development are put forward. For all cases, results were in good agreement with experiments and rapid convergence has been obtained. Comparisons between the present grid deformation method and transfinite interpolation were made highlighting the advantages of the current approach. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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