Published online by Cambridge University Press: 04 July 2016
A new free-wake aerodynamic model of a rotor hovering in ground effect is briefly presented. The numerical characteristics of the model are investigated. The convergence between consecutive iterations and convergence with respect to different parameters that define the model, are presented and discussed. The model is then validated by comparing the numerical results with existing experimental data. Very good agreement of the thrust coefficient is obtained, whereas discrepancies in the torque coefficients are discussed. At the end of the paper the capabilities of the model are shown by considering various aspects of the ground effect.