A Multirotor Inflow Model Based on Combined Momentum Theory and Simple Vortex Theory (CMTSVT) for Flight Simulations

Abstract

This paper extends the recently developed combined momentum theory and simple vortex theory (CMTSVT) multirotor inflow model for dynamic simulations. Previous comparison studies of the CMTSVT inflow model have shown that the model captures fundamental rotor-on-rotor inflow interference effects of various multirotor configurations in steady flow conditions. In this study, an output-coupled model structure widely used in the literature is followed to transform the formulation of the CMTSVT inflow model to a form that can be used in time marching simulations. Inflow components of the new formulation converge to the original values in steady flight conditions, which indicates a successful reformulation. The proposed model can be used for rapid estimation of vehicle performance as well as flight dynamics simulations and handling qualities analyses.