Numerical Study on Low-Reynolds Compressible Flows around Mars Helicopter Rotor Blade Airfoil

High-speed rotor rotation under the low-density condition creates a special low-Reynolds compressible flow around the rotor blade airfoil where the compressibility effect on the laminar separated shear layer occurs. However, the compressibility effect and shock wave generation associated with the increase in the Mach number (M) and the trend change due to their interference have not been clarified. The purpose is to clear the compressibility effect and its impact of shock wave generation on the flow field and aerodynamics. Therefore, we perform a two-dimensional unsteady calculation by Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis using the CLF5605 airfoil used in the Mars helicopter Ingenuity, which succeeded in its first flight on Mars. The calculation conditions are set to the Reynolds number (Re) at 75% rotor span in hovering (Re = 15,400), and the Mach number was varied from incompressible (M = 0.2) to transonic (M = 1.2). The compressible fluid dynamics solver FaSTAR developed by the Japan aerospace exploration agency (JAXA) is used, and calculations are performed under multiple conditions in which the Mach number and angle of attack (α) are swept. The results show that a flow field is similar to that in the Earth’s atmosphere above M = 1.0, such as bow shock at the leading edge, whereas multiple λ-type shock waves are observed over the separated shear layer above α = 3° at M = 0.80. However, no significant difference is found in the Cp distribution around the airfoil between M = 0.6 and M = 0.8. From the results, it is found that multiple λ-type shock waves have no significant effect on the airfoil surface pressure distribution, the separated shear layer effect is dominant in the surface pressure change and aerodynamic characteristics.

Experimental Study of the Vibration Phenomenon of Compressor Rotor Blade Induced by Inlet Probe Support

An experimental investigation was conducted in order to understand the installation effects of inlet measurement probes on the vibration characteristics of the rotor blades in two axial compressors.The vibration signal of the rotor blades was analyzed for different layouts of the inlet measurement probes.For the three-stage axial compressor,the first-order resonance occurs on the first stage of the rotor blades at an engine order excitation condition,which is induced by the cylindrical probe support with a diameter of 10 mm.When the size of the probe support is decreased,the vibration level reduces evidently.In contrast,for the six-stage axial compressor,the first-order resonance occurs on the first stage of the rotor blades at an excitation source of 6th order,which is triggered by the inlet measurement probes and the upstream struts.When the number of the inlet measurement probes is changed,the resonance of the rotor blades vanishes.

Aerodynamic design optimization of helicopter rotor blades including airfoil shape for hover performance

This study proposes a process to obtain an optimal helicopter rotor blade shape for aerodynamic performance in hover flight. A new geometry representation algorithm which uses the class function/shape function transformation （CST） is employed to generate airfoil coordinates. With this approach, airfoil shape is considered in terms of design variables. The optimization process is constructed by integrating several programs developed by author. The design variables include twist, taper ratio, point of taper initiation, blade root chord, and coefficients of the airfoil distribution function. Aerodynamic constraints consist of limits on power available in hover and forward flight. The trim condition must be attainable. This paper considers rotor blade configuration for the hover flight condition only, so that the required power in hover is chosen as the objective function of the optimization problem. Sensitivity analysis of each design variable shows that airfoil shape has an important role in rotor performance. The optimum rotor blade reduces the required hover power by 7.4% and increases the figure of merit by 6.5%, which is a good improvement for rotor blade design.

A fully automated framework for helicopter rotor blades design and analysis including aerodynamics,structure, and manufacturing

This study describes an integrated framework in which basic aerospace engineering aspects(performance, aerodynamics, and structure) and practical aspects(configuration visualization and manufacturing) are coupled and considered in one fully automated design optimization of rotor blades. A number of codes are developed to robustly perform estimation of helicopter configuration from sizing, performance analysis, trim analysis, to rotor blades configuration representation. These codes are then integrated with a two-dimensional airfoil analysis tool to fully design rotor blades configuration including rotor planform and airfoil shape for optimal aerodynamics in both hover and forward flights. A modular structure design methodology is developed for realistic composite rotor blades with a sophisticated cross-sectional geometry. A D-spar cross-sectional structure is chosen as a baseline. The framework is able to analyze all realistic inner configurations including thicknesses of D-spar, skin, web, number and ply angles of layers of each composite part,and materials. A number of codes and commercial software(ANSYS, Gridgen, VABS, Pre VABS,etc.) are implemented to automate the structural analysis from aerodynamic data processing to sectional properties and stress analysis. An integrated model for manufacturing cost estimation ofcomposite rotor blades developed at the Aerodynamic Analysis and Design Laboratory(AADL),Aerospace Information Engineering Department, Konkuk University is integrated into the framework to provide a rapid and dynamic feedback to configuration design. The integration of three modules has constructed a framework where the size of a helicopter, aerodynamic performance analysis, structure analysis, and manufacturing cost estimation could be quickly investigated. All aspects of a rotor blade including planform, airfoil shape, and inner structure are considered in a multidisciplinary design optimization without an exception of critical configuration.

Numerical Simulation of Ice Accretion Phenomena on Rotor Blade of Axial Blower

Ice accretion is the phenomenon that super-cooled water droplets impinge and accrete on a body. It is well known that ice accretion on blades and airfoils leads to performance degradation and severe accidents. For this reason, experimental investigations have been carried out using flight tests or icing tunnels. However, it is too expensive, dangerous, and difficult to set actual icing conditions. Hence, computational fluid dynamics is useful to predict ice accretion. A rotor blade is one of jet engine components where ice accretes. Therefore, the authors focus on the ice accretion on a rotor blade in this study. Three-dimensional icing phenomena on the rotor blade of a commercial axial blower are computed here, and ice accretion on the rotor blade is numerically investigated.

Aerodynamic Performance and Aeroacoustic Characteristics of Model Rotor with Anhedral Blade Tip in Hover

Experimental investigation on the aerodynamic performance and aeroacoustic characteristics of model rotors with different tip anhedral angles in hover are conducted in the paper.Three sets of model rotors with blade-tip anhedral angle 0°(reference rotor),20°and 45°respectively are designed to analyze the influence of the anhedral angle on the hovering performance and aeroacoustics of rotor.In the environment of anechoic chamber,the hover experiments under the different collective pitch and blade numbers,are carried out to measure the figure of merit(FM),time history of sound pressure and sound pressure level(SPL)of the three rotor models.Based on test results,the comparison and analysis of hovering performance and aeroacoustic characteristics among the three rotor models have been done.Meanwhile,for the sake of analysis,the rotor wake and blade pressure distribution are simulated by means of computational fluid method(CFD).At last,some conclusions about the effects of blade-tip anhedral angle on the aerodynamic performance and aeroacoustic characteristics in hover are obtained.An anhedral blade tip can enhance the FM of the rotor,and decrease the rotor loads noise to some extent.

Modeling and Dynamic Analysis for the Foundation of a Blade-Rotor System

In order to achieve the model-based fault monitoring and diagnosis,an accurate model for the rotor system is necessary to locate and quantify faults.Since the dynamic characteristics of a blade-rotor system is influenced by foundation flexibility,the modeling and dynamic analyses on the foundation were sequentially investigated.Firstly,the effect of element size on the model convergence was investigated using the forward difference quotient as the slope of the frequency difference,which found that the model converged when the element size refined to 4mm.Secondly,a modal analysis and a harmonic response analysis were performed to obtain the dynamic characteristics of the foundation structure.Finally,an optimization to the foundation utilizing an additional stiffener was conducted to reduce the foundation response and make the critical speed far away from the working frequency band of 20—50Hz.

Aerodynamic Sweeping Study and Design for Transonic Compressor Rotor blades

The objective of the present paper is to study the sweep effect on the blade design performance of a transonic compressor rotor.The baseline to be modified and swept is a designed well efficient transonic single rotor compressor. The first part of the present study is concerning the sweep effect with straight leading edge.In this case fixing the hub section the swept blade is formed by tilting the leading edge with whole blade forwards and backwards axially.The second part is to use an optimization strategy with simple gradient-based optimum-searching method and multi-section blade parameterization technique to search and generate an optimal swept rotor with curved arbitrary leading edge.Its adiabatic efficiency is a little bit greater than that of the reference un-swept rotor.

Blade-Loss-Caused Rubbing Dynamic Characteristics of Rotor-Bladed Disk-Casing System

Considering the elastic supports,the finite element model of rotor-bladed disk-casing system is established using commercial software ANSYS/LS-DYNA.Assuming that broken blade is released from the disk,the complicate rubbing responses of unbalanced rotor-bladed disk-casing system are studied under different operational speeds.In addition,influences of both plastic deformation of blade and casing failure are analyzed.The results show that there exist some multiple even fractional frequencies in the transient and steady vibration responses of unbalanced rotor.Besides,one nodal diameter vibration of bladed disk coupling with the lateral vibration of the shaft as well as the first order bending vibration of blade can be excited under low operational speed,while the first order bending vibration of blade coupling with the lateral vibration of disk-shaft is easily excited under high operational speed.During rubbing process,three distinct contact states can be observed:broken blade-casing contact,broken blade-blade component-casing contact and broken blade-casing contact/blade component-casing contact/blade selfcontact.It is worth noting that the third contact state is related to the operational speed.With the increase of operational speed,self-contact in the blade may occur.

Numerical Investigation on Super-cooled Large Droplet Icing of Fan Rotor Blade in Jet Engine

Icing(or ice accretion) is a phenomenon in which super-cooled water droplets impinge and accrete on a body.It is well known that ice accretion on blades and vanes leads to performance degradation and has caused severe accidents.Although various anti-icing and deicing systems have been developed,such accidents still occur.Therefore,it is important to clarify the phenomenon of ice accretion on an aircraft and in a jet engine.However,flight tests for ice accretion are very expensive,and in the wind tunnel it is difficult to reproduce all climate conditions where ice accretion can occur.Therefore,it is expected that computational fluid dynamics(CFD),which can estimate ice accretion in various climate conditions,will be a useful way to predict and understand the ice accretion phenomenon.On the other hand,although the icing caused by super-cooled large droplets(SLD) is very dangerous,the numerical method has not been established yet.This is why SLD icing is characterized by splash and bounce phenomena of droplets and they are very complex in nature.In the present study,we develop an ice accretion code considering the splash and bounce phenomena to predict SLD icing,and the code is applied to a fan rotor blade.The numerical results with and without the SLD icing model are compared.Through this study,the influence of the SLD icing model is numerically clarified.

The 3D Modeling of Blades of Multiphase Flow Helico-Axial Pump's Rotor Based on Solidworks

The structure of multiphase flow helico-axial pump＇s rotor and how to model the rotor, especially the blades of the rotor, based on the Solidworks software. More important, the principle of the blade design is mainly introduced. Under the guide of the principle, the 3D coordinates of the blade data points can be got by matlab programming. In the paper, the design step and the modeling step are particularly described through a concrete example.

Computational Fluid Dynamics Analysis of Multi-Bladed Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine Rotor

The principal objective of this work was to investigate the 3D flow field around a multi-bladed horizontal axis wind turbine (HAWT) rotor and to investigate its performance characteristics. The aerodynamic performance of this novel rotor design was evaluated by means of a Computational Fluid Dynamics commercial package. The Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations were selected to model the physics of the incompressible Newtonian fluid around the blades. The Shear Stress Transport (SST) k-ω turbulence model was chosen for the assessment of the 3D flow behavior as it had widely used in other HAWT studies. The pressure-based simulation was done on a model representing one-ninth of the rotor using a 40-degree periodicity in a single moving reference frame system. Analyzing the wake flow behavior over a wide range of wind speeds provided a clear vision of this novel rotor configuration. From the analysis, it was determined that the flow becomes accelerated in outer wake region downstream of the rotor and by placing a multi-bladed rotor with a larger diameter behind the forward rotor resulted in an acceleration of this wake flow which resulted in an increase the overall power output of the wind machine.

基于流固耦合的压气机转子叶片非同步振动分析

压气机转子叶片非同步振动是近年来发现的一类新气动弹性问题,表现为叶片振动频率与转频不同步且具有锁频现象,严重影响航空发动机的可靠性和运行安全,目前对其产生机理并不完全清楚.为了深入研究压气机内不稳定流动与叶片非同步振动之间的耦合机制,基于时间推进的方法建立了多级压气机转子叶片全环的双向流固耦合模型,数值研究了刚性叶片与非同步振动柔性叶片的非定常流场、气流激励频率和结构响应特征,揭示了压气机转子叶片非同步振动的流固耦合机制.结果表明:近失速工况下,转子叶尖吸力面径向分离涡的周期性脱落及再附过程是导致叶尖压力剧烈波动的主要原因,其3倍谐波激励频率与转子一阶弯曲固有频率接近,提供了叶片非同步振动的初始气流激励源.叶片非同步振动发生时,位移响应表现为等幅值的极限环特征,振动以一阶弯曲模态主导,径向分离涡产生的非整数倍气流激励频率及其谐波频率最终锁定为叶片一阶弯曲固有频率,非同步振动的运动胁迫使得相邻通道叶尖流场周向趋于一致.研究成果及对叶片非同步振动流固耦合机制的认识可为压气机内部不稳定流动诱发的叶片振动失效分析提供有益参考.

基于声表面波传感器的转子叶片应变无线测量研究

声表面波传感器可以实现无线无源工作,该特性使其在高速旋转部件测试中有重要的应用前景。利用硅酸镓镧压电晶体设计并制备了谐振型SAW传感器,研究了其应变敏感特性,并成功应用于转子叶片应变的无线测试试验。结果表明,所制备的SAW传感器的谐振频率为217.794 MHz,品质因子达到5807,应变灵敏度为-317 Hz/με。在3000~15000 r/min转速下,无线测试了转子叶片应变,测试结果与电阻应变计测量结果及有限元仿真计算结果基本一致。研究结果可以为SAW传感器在高速旋转设备的无线测试工程应用提供参考。

转子叶盘结构减振方法研究

转子叶盘结构在高速和超高速的运行状况下,可能因为失稳而剧烈振动,进而引发严重的安全事故。增大叶盘结构阻尼是减轻其振动的有效方法之一。国内外学者针对叶盘结构,开展了大量的研究,为了充分了解叶盘结构减振方法的研究进展,推动相关问题的深入研究,提出了将叶盘结构减振分为干摩擦、内摩擦和其他能量转换方式。对叶盘结构减振方法的相关研究进展进行了总结,并展望了叶盘结构减振的未来研究方向。

带后掠桨尖旋翼/螺旋桨的悬停气弹特性分析

针对旋翼/螺旋桨的大负扭和后掠桨尖设计在桨叶内部所带来的严重应力应变集中问题,结合三维结构动力学模型、旋翼气动模型和旋翼配平方法,对复合材料旋翼/螺旋桨进行了综合建模与气弹载荷分析,并通过悬停实验验证了综合模型的准确性。对比分析了无负扭、大负扭和大负扭带后掠桨尖的桨叶气弹特性,发现大负扭导致桨叶应力集中区域扩大,后掠桨尖使桨尖过渡区域的应力集中区域扩大,集中程度加剧。

直升机旋翼桨叶动力学/强度多学科优化设计

为解决板梁构型桨叶设计方案结构超重和疲劳寿命不足的问题,以旋翼桨叶剖面特性展向分布为设计变量,以桨叶频率配置、气弹稳定性和转动惯量为设计约束,组织多学科优化设计,实现减小桨叶结构重量,提高桨叶疲劳寿命并降低桨叶剖面动载荷的设计目标。取桨叶动载荷最大的高速前飞状态为设计点,采用文中构建的方法,成功实现了该桨叶的调频/减重/减振/提高疲劳寿命优化设计,优化后桨叶结构减重近10%,桨叶控制剖面的动应变降到许用值以下,满足了重量和疲劳寿命设计指标。

无人直升机旋翼桨叶设计及动力学特性分析

复合材料在桨叶上广泛应用的同时使桨叶的受力、刚度特性比传统的桨叶更为复杂。为了降低桨叶工作时动应力和旋翼的振动水平,有必要对旋翼桨叶进行动力学特性分析。对旋翼总体参数及桨叶气动参数进行设计,采用CFD方法对旋翼悬停状态进行气动特性分析,将桨叶三维非线性弹性模型分解为二维线性剖面模型和一维非线性梁模型进行动力学特性分析。结果表明:该旋翼能够成功拉起230 kg级无人直升机,悬停效率大于0.65,工作转速下桨叶的固有频率与8阶以下的气动激振力频率保持一定的范围,避开了转速共振区,满足桨叶动力学设计要求。