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Prediction of aerodynamic forces on a helicopter fuselage

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 February 2016

A. Filippone
A. Filippone*
Affiliation:
School of Mechanical, Aerospace, Civil Engineering, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
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Abstract

This paper presents a critical analysis of the aerodynamic loads created by the airframe of a conventional helicopter. The airframe is modelled and computed with an implicit, multi-block, multi-grid parallel Navier-Stokes solver. The flow solver has been optimised and run on up to 200 parallel processors. The cases reported include the effects of angle-of-attack (positive and negative), the effects of yaw (starboard and port) and side flow. Finally, the effects of the support strut in the wind tunnel experiments have been evaluated. Data are shown for the lift, drag and side force coefficients at flight Reynolds numbers (Re = 30m). A case of 30 degrees yaw at a flight Reynolds number is shown. We conclude that with the use of top-end computer resources it is possible to calculate the aerodynamic coefficients with a good degree of accuracy if the flow is mostly attached.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Aeronautical Journal , Volume 111 , Issue 1117 , March 2007 , pp. 175 - 184
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Aeronautical Society 2007 

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