Propeller Partial Ground and Ceiling Effect Prediction

The study of the fixed-pitch small-scale propeller in ground/ceiling effect is extended to forward flight conditions. Force-based experiment and smoke flow visualization is conducted at the University of Dayton Low Speed Wind Tunnel. The propeller is mounted at different incidence angles to simulate the transition to forward flight from hover and forward flight conditions. The effect of propeller incidence angle seems to be negligible at J=0. The power required at constant thrust shows an increasing trend after a threshold advance ratio for each h/D and then decreases steeply upon further increase in advance ratio. Smoke flow visualization revealed the presence of three distinct zones separated by the onset of the fountain vortex and the onset of the ground vortex at each ground distance. At advance ratios below the onset of the fountain vortex lies the optimal ground effect zone. An increase in advance ratio beyond this threshold will result in power increment due to the fountain vortex. Further increase in advance ratio initiates the onset of the ground vortex where the ground effect is significantly reduced. The onset of the fountain vortex and the ground vortex occurs at lower advance ratios for a propeller at an incident angle to the ground.

A velocity potential-based finite state model (VPBFSM) has been developed to analyze an isolated rotor in ground effect. The model uses mass source distributions to represent the ground and enforces the non-penetration of flow boundary condition. In previous VPBFSM approaches to impose this boundary condition, the r = j terms were excluded to avoid singularities. This exclusion required adjustments to the source strengths and ground rotor size in order to impose the boundary condition properly, which reduced the model’s robustness. In the present study, the r = j terms are incorporated using a solution for the gradient of the velocity potential from the literature, which avoids singularities. This inclusion allows for effectively enforcing the boundary condition without requiring adjustments. The model is applied to an isolated rotor in full, inclined, and partial ground effect cases, including analysis of the R−50 rotor using geometric and aerodynamic data from the literature. Results for full ground effect show excellent correlation with the Hayden model. The normalized induced torque also exhibits good agreement with experimental data for full, inclined, and partial ground effect cases.

A velocity potential-based finite state model (VPBFSM) has been developed to analyze an isolated rotor in ground effect. The model uses mass source distributions to represent the ground and enforces the non-penetration of flow boundary condition. In previous VPBFSM approaches to impose this boundary condition, the r = j terms were excluded to avoid singularities. This exclusion required adjustments to the source strengths and ground rotor size in order to impose the boundary condition properly, which reduced the model’s robustness. In the present study, the r = j terms are incorporated using a solution for the gradient of the velocity potential from the literature, which avoids singularities. This inclusion allows for effectively enforcing the boundary condition without requiring adjustments. The model is applied to an isolated rotor in full, inclined, and partial ground effect cases, including analysis of the R−50 rotor using geometric and aerodynamic data from the literature. Results for full ground effect show excellent correlation with the Hayden model. The normalized induced torque also exhibits good agreement with experimental data for full, inclined, and partial ground effect cases.

The full and partial ground effects on the lift generation of a flapping airfoil in normal hovering mode are investigated numerically using the discrete vortex method in two dimensions. To achieve full ground effect, the airfoil of chord c is made to hover above the center of a finite-sized platform of length 10c. We have observed the force-enhancement, force-reduction, and force-recovery regimes at low, medium, and high ground clearances in line with the existing literature. This paper puts special focus on partial ground effect when the airfoil is hovering near the edge of the platform. Lift-modifying mechanisms not previously observed under full ground effect have been discovered. When stroke reversal occurs near the edge of the platform, a relatively stationary strong vortex may form above the platform edge. This strong vortex can either increase or decrease the instantaneous lift force on the airfoil depending on the position of the airfoil relative to the platform edge. Also, the platform edge may lead to the formation of an additional vortex pair which increases the instantaneous lift force as the airfoil sweeps past the edge under suitable conditions. Lastly, the platform edge can lead to the formation of a reverse von Kármán vortex street that extends well below the stroke plane under suitable geometric arrangements.

In this work a compact, low cross - polar, printed elliptical ultrawide band monopole antenna with a size of 26 20 mm2 is presented. For achieving ultrawide bandwidth and low cross - polarization level, proposed antenna employs a partial ground structure and a set of slotted rings which constitutes open ended slotted rings structure respectively. The effects of slotted rings and partial ground have been tested and compared with similar antenna without open ended slotted rings structure. Based on measured results it is observed that the proposed antenna with open ended slotted rings structure covers an ultrawide bandwidth of 9 GHz i.e. from 3.5 GHz to 12.5 GHz with cross - polarization level of less than 20 dB throughout 9 GHz bandwidth. Furthermore, the proposed antenna provides an average gain of 3.5 dBi with peak gain of 5 dBi at 8 GHz with constant group delay of less than 1.5 ns through the operating bandwidth.

Influence of ground and ceiling effect on the aerodynamic characteristics of flapping wings

This research introduces the first design concept for a ducted coaxial-rotor amphibious spherical robot (BYQ-A1), utilizing the principle of variable mass control. It investigates whether the BYQ-A1’s variable-mass slider has a certain regularity in its impact on the aerodynamic properties of the BYQ-A1. Utilizing the Blade Element Momentum Theory (BEM) and Wall Jet Theory, an aerodynamic calculation model for the BYQ-A1 is established. An orthogonal experimental method is used to conduct tests on the impact of the variable-mass slider on the aerodynamic properties of the ducted coaxial-rotor system and validate the effectiveness of the aerodynamic calculation model. The results show that the slider generates an internal ground effect and ceiling effect within the BYQ-A1 that enhance the lift of the upper and lower rotors when the robot is equipped with it. The increased total lift compensates for the additional aerodynamic drag caused by the presence of the slider. This novel finding provides guidance for the subsequent optimization design and control method research of the BYQ-A1 and also offers valuable references for configuration schemes that incorporate necessary devices between coaxial dual rotors.

Compound rotorcraft can be a viable option to achieve moderately high speeds of 240 knots. However, there is no systematic wind tunnel test data in the public domain to understand the complex interactional aeromechanics involved. This work is part of a test campaign to conduct multiple high-speed wind tunnel tests of various compound configurations. The compound configuration consists of a single main rotor, a single wing on the retreating side for lift augmentation, and a single rear propeller for propulsive augmentation. In this paper, hover test results are presented. Hover tests were conducted for various configurations and at different tip Mach numbers with the maximum value of 0.5. Rotor and wing performances are measured separately using individual balances. Rotor blades are equipped with strain gauges for measuring flap, lag, and torsional moments at radial stations. The wing location is below the main rotor, and the measured wing download is only 2.8% of the rotor thrust. The wing provides a partial ground effect, making the rotor more efficient and almost compensates for the download with less than 1% reduction in net figure of merit. Blade structural loads correlate satisfactorily between the analysis and measurement except for lag bending moment. This discrepancy is a large 2/rev lag bending moment measured in the test, which needs further investigation. Propeller hover test was conducted up to 2500 revolutions per minute (tip Mach number of 0.25) at a single collective. Prediction correlates well and captures the low-Reynolds-number effect for lower revolutions per minute.