Aeronautic Engineers

 
Home | Aircraft engineering | Aerodynamic engineering | other topics
  Position:HOME>Rotorcraft engineering>Article Content
trouble with rotor thrust equation
Source:Internet Author:Unknow Pubdate:2008-04-03  
helicopterhelpneeded (Visitor) 3 May 02 22:10
koschur@graffiti.net

I am trying to calculate thrust from a rotor in the simplest way. I am using the general equation:
                                                               
  
 (explained in much more detail at http://www.natefisher.com/rotorthrust.html)

My problem is that when I increase the pitch of the blade, the total thrust amount always decreases, and when I increase the lift-curve slope value, the thrust always seems to increase. Common sense seems to tell me that this would be the opposite case I should be getting. Anyone out there know what may cause this? I tried to make it as easy as possible to read what I am doing at the website above. 字串5
http://www.natefisher.com/rotorthrust.html

also, is the relative pitch (p in the equation) in radians or degrees, i assumed degrees.

thanks,
nate

koschur@graffiti.net


vorwald (Aerospace) 6 May 02 12:14
I think you have three problems with the derivation

a) Wrong expression for thrust
b) Wrong expression for induced velocity
c) Using the induced velocity expression incorrectly

The blade pitch is in radians (to match the lift curve slope of 4.5 which is in per radian).

Here are the correct equations

Thrust in terms of coefficient

T = Ct * (rho * A * (Omega * R)^2)

rho = density = 0.002378  (lb sec^2 / ft^4)
A = disk area = pi * R^2   (ft^2)
Omega = rotation rate  (radians / sec)
R = blade radius  (ft)

Equations for a uniform pitch (flat) blade

Blade twist
字串9


theta(r) = theta0   (radians)

Tip Loss Factor

Kp = 1.15  (nondimensional)

Blade solidity

sigma = Nb * chord * R / A   (nondimensional)

Nb is the number of blades

Induced velocity

lambda = sigma * a / (16 * Kp)
* {-1 + sqrt[1 + 64/3 * Kp^2 / (sigma * a) * theta0] }

a - lift curves slope, per radian

Thrust coefficient

Ct = sigma * a / 2 * (theta0 / 3 - lamda / 2)


Ct should increase with theta0 (blade pitch in radians) and also increase with "a" (lift curve slope in radians).  An increase lift curve slope is an improved airfoil section.

Reference: Class notes, University of Maryland, Helicopter Dynamics

Cheers
J. Vorwald

helicopterhelpneeded (Visitor) 6 May 02 18:44
well, that all looks good to me too! as I am jsut strating out my AE career and am not very familiar with common math. And thank yo ufor your time in replying! It is greatly appreciated.
字串9


The formulea I used were gathered from Chapter III on blade element theory from "Intro to Helipcopter Aerodynamics" by W.Z. Stepniewsk. (1950)

I dont know if anyone is familiar with that book and can tell me what I interpreted wrong?




(Click:

Previous:T53-L-11C Turbine Engine   Next:Turbojet Engine
[Add TO Favorites] [TOP] [PRINT] [CLOCE WINDOWS]  
  Hot Article
·NACA-8H12 Airfoil
·XROTOR
·mechanical linkages
·helicopter rotor blades
·Making rotor blades
·Basic book on helicopter theor
·A software program for Autogyr
·BELL 407 CONTACT PRESSURE
·Propeller Calculator
·twisting rotorblades
·LHTEC T800 Engine Data
·BLADE FLAPPING
  Related Articles
·Turbojet Engine
·uh-1v rotor blade
·plastic for model rotor blade
·Definition of sideslip in heli
·Varying main rotor speed
·rotor blades-autogiro type
·weight measure
·Lead Lag Hinge
·LWINS data Longitude/Latitude
·Swashplate design help
·Hub bearings
·Composite Rotorblades
Power by DedeCms