Numerical and Experimental Investigation of Stall on the MERIT Rotor in Hover

The flow behavior of the two-blade MERIT rotor in hover, focusing on both pre-stall and stall regimes, is investigated through a comprehensive numerical-experimental approach. The study leverages unsteady RANS simulations to compute rotor thrust and power polars and validates them against experimental measurements. Valuable insights are provided into the capabilities of unsteady RANS methods and modern turbulence models for predicting rotor performance across these critical operating conditions. Furthermore, the numerical model incorporates blade deformations by implementing the experimentally measured flap and torsion displacements. A more realistic depiction of the rotor's aerodynamics is provided accounting for the structural deformations of the blades under aerodynamic loads. Highfidelity simulations closely predict the experiments in pre-stall conditions while discrepancies are present when the flow exhibits extended stalled regions. Blade deformations demonstrated to have only a minor effect on thrust and power polars due to the high stiffness of the system.