High-fidelity Numerical Investigation of Complex Propeller Flows

This paper presents high-fidelity numerical investigations of complex propeller flows using the HMB3 solver of Glasgow. The present study focused on theGATEUR AG25 rotor/propeller integration examined by ONERA. This study compares and evaluates various rotor modelling and turbulence modelling approaches for the simulation of isolated and isolated propellers. Simulations of the baseline isolated propulsors were first carried out and validated against experimental measurements. Simulations of the rotor/propeller integration were then carried out at low speed forward and also at hover. The results were compared with the isolated cases to highlight the performance changes due to the aerodynamic interactions. Effects of the forward speed were compared and discussed in detail. In hover, the aerodynamic interference was found to be considerably exacerbated. Elaborate comparisons were also performed between methods to bring out the gains and losses of different modelling options.