C2601: Rotor Aerodynamics, Dynamics & eVTOL Aircraft Fundamentals

Abstract

Content: This session is one of a 4-part series. Successful completion of each course in the series comes with an SAE badge and certificate.

C2602 High-Voltage Battery System Design for eVTOL Aircraft
C2603 Brushless Permanent Magnet Machines and Motor Drives for Aircraft
C2604 eVTOL and Urban Air Mobility Noise

This course introduces the core aerodynamic principles that govern how rotors generate thrust and how those principles translate into real-world eVTOL aircraft design. Starting from first-principles momentum theory, the course builds up to blade element momentum theory (BEMT) and shows how these tools are used to predict rotor performance. Along the way, the course covers the different modeling approaches available and the level of accuracy each is suited for, helping attendees understand which tool fits which stage of design — illustrated through sizing examples for both quadrotor and tiltrotor configurations.

The second half of the session shifts from aerodynamics to aircraft-level behavior, covering eVTOL control and trim across flight regimes, rotor structural dynamics and loads, and aeroelastic stability. Attendees will leave with a working mental model of how rotor design decisions ripple through performance, controllability, and structural integrity — essential context for anyone working on or evaluating eVTOL aircraft.

Learning Objectives

Content

By attending this course, you will be able to:

Explain the fundamental physics of how a rotor generates lift and thrust
Apply momentum theory and blade element momentum theory (BEMT) to predict rotor performance
Estimate key performance parameters for various eVTOL configurations, including quadrotor and tiltrotor sizing examples
Describe the control and trim challenges unique to eVTOL aircraft across hover, transition, and forward flight
Identify the primary sources of rotor structural loads and their design implications
Recognize the fundamentals of aeroelastic stability as they apply to rotor systems
Compare different rotor modeling approaches and identify which level of fidelity is appropriate for a given accuracy requirement

Who Should Attend

Content

Aerospace/aeronautical engineers new to rotorcraft or eVTOL design
Rotor dynamics, aerodynamics, and structures engineers
Flight controls and systems engineers working on eVTOL programs
Aircraft conceptual/preliminary design engineers
Early-career engineers and graduate students transitioning into VTOL aircraft work
Program managers/technical leads seeking foundational rotor and eVTOL knowledge
Industry professionals (business development, certification, manufacturing, program management, etc.) who work alongside rotor/aircraft engineers but lack a technical background in rotor physics

Meta Tags

Topics: Aircraft propulsion systems
Advanced air mobility (AAM)
Urban air mobility (UAM)
Vertical take-off and landing (VTOL)
Electric vertical take-off and landing (EVTOL)
Propellers and rotors

Details

Additional Details