Unsteady Three-Dimensional Compressible Potential Aerodynamics Of Helicopter Rotors A Boundary-Element Formulation

A new general boundaty-element methodology for the analysis of helicopter rotors in potential compressible Bows is presented. The methodology is based on the use of the velocity potential (instead of the more common acceleration potential). The advantages of the velocity potential approach over the acceleration potential approach is discussed in detail. The derivation of the integral equation is outlined, along with the boundary-element algorithm used for the computational implementation. In addition, numerical results for a helicopter rotor in hover are studied in detail, with particular emphasis on the convergence analysis. The numerical results are in excellent agreement with existing results by Rao and Schatzle.