03.1 - Aerodynamics – CFD Methods and Validation
COMPUTATIONAL ANALYSIS ON THE EFFECTS OF LEADING EDGE TUBERCLES ON THE PERFORMANCE OF ROTATING PROPELLER
D. Di Pasquale¹, T. Tarun, Indian Institute of Technology(BHU) , India; S. Shubham¹, S.A. Prince¹, A. Proenca¹; ¹Cranfield University, United Kingdom
This research paper focuses on investigating the effect of leading edge tubercles on the performance of rotating propeller. The primary objective of this study is to assess if bio-mimic passive flow control techniques such as tubercles could be employed to suppress flow separation on propeller blades, and thereby delay the onset of transition that leads to recirculation vortices caused by the stimulus of flow breakdown. The study involved the assessment of various leading edge tubercles of various sizes and extent on a three blade propeller. Preliminary RANS CFD investigations have shown that these tubercles can have a positive effect in term of thrust produced. These results will further be validated against other two different numerical solver. An unsteady solver based on a vorticity panel code and another solver based on a Lattice Boltzmann Method (LBM). The three aerodynamic methods will be discussed and compared in term of numerical results, stability, robustness, and numerical efficiency. Additionally, experimental test will be performed for further validation using a new propeller rig already designed and manufactured at Cranfield University and capable of measuring propeller thrust. The primary focus is the validation of tools and methods that can be used to design and analysing of the next generation of rotorcraft.