During the first reporting period CFD steady-state flow simulations and unsteady time-accurate flow simulation for the cruise, hover and autorotation flight conditions have been carried out. The computational results have given important insight into the performance and flow characteristics in the isolated and installed configuration. A modular approach of the setup and domain CFD modelling have been opted to give versatility in simulations for changing pitch-angle and flow condition. The simulations of the complete installed configuration have been performed using the RANS solver of ENFLOW. For all operating conditions the strategy to achieve converged periodic solutions has been determined. Converged periodic solutions in cruise and autorotation were achieved without much difficulty. Finding a converged periodic solution in the hover condition was problematic. A special technique to achieve this solution with the least computational cost had to be developed.
During the second reporting period, the design optimization was performed consisting of automatic gradient-based optimizations, and afterwards manual parametric studies to further maximize the improvement. Relative to the baseline propeller provided by AH, improvement for the starboard propeller has been achieved at all design points. Investigation to determine the most proper procedure to achieve a converged periodic solution has been performed. A certain proper combination of spatial and temporal resolution sequencing was found to be necessary to obtain a good periodic convergence.The effects of variation of angle of attack and sideslip have been assessed. The isolated all-blade propeller and the complete compound helicopter configurations have been considered for the simulations. For efficiency, NLR has provided an email-based eCFD framework to allow TUD to conduct the large-scale CFD simulations remotely from their premise. Such a framework has accelerated the simulation processes and proved to be effective for an efficient collaboration between NLR and TUD in planning, trouble-shooting and executing the necessary simulations. In the scope of dissemination, a joint TUD, NLR and AH paper led by TUD has been written and presented at the AHS International 74th Annual Forum & Technology Display, Phoenix, Arizona, USA, May 14–17, 2018.
During the third (final) period, CFD setup including grid generation was prepared to assess the installed performance of the optimized propeller. Two additional configurations required for the bookkeeping analysis of the interactional flow: the compound helicopter configuration (i) without the propellers and (ii) without the fuselage. Large-scale simulations for the compound helicopter configuration were performed, followed by the post-processing analysis and flow visualization in the scope of: (i) assessment of the installed performance of the optimized propeller, (ii) bookkeeping analysis of the interactional flow, and (iii) performance data base concerning characteristics at boundaries of the operating envelope in support of control law design.
In the scope of dissemination, PROPTER has contributed to the article and interview by the journalist Mr. P. Siller (assigned by CSJU), and to the poster and podium presentation of the Clean Sky 2 Events held on 9-10 April 2019. A webinar to present eCFD used during the project was planned and invitation was sent to 19 propeller manufacturers by NLR, for which there was no response. eCFD would allow the manufacturers to perform customized CFD simulations remotely through an email interface. An investigation has been conducted to know the reasons behind this, mainly because time unavailability and limited capacity of the small companies. As a result of this, in the place of a live demonstration of the planned webinar, NLR has prepared extended presentation slides ready to be sent to the interested parties individually after the project closure.
Preparation for two journal articles to be sent to Aerospace Science & Technology after project closure has been started:
• A joint journal article led by TUD will focus on the breakdown of aerodynamic Interactions for the lateral rotors on a compound helicopter.
• A journal article led by NLR wil focus on the propeller design optimization method and results.
