Stereoscopic PIV around a propeller

Abstract

This paper describes the investigation of the propeller slipstream at two different sideslip an-gles applying stereoscopic Particle Image Velocimetry in several planes along the propeller. An 8-bladed single propeller is investigated in the Airbus Low-Speed Wind Tunnel Facility. The propeller is mounted to the ceiling by a single sting, through which the air supply is pro-vided that allows driving the propeller. Experimental propeller research nowadays is mainly focussed on naval applications (among many others). Despite the fact that common features (fundamental blade element theories, tip vortices shedding) are shared with aerospace applications fundamental differences are pre-sent. Other phenomena are associated with naval applications such as cavitation leading to different blade geometries for naval applications. Recent experimental propeller research in aerospace remains limited. Many flow phenomena can be modelled and solved with com-putational fluid dynamics (CFD). However several issues remain unresolved. First of all the generation of a grid in complex curved regions is a time consuming task. Additionally the choice of one of many turbulence models is not obvious for RANS calculations and although unsteady calculations (DES/LES) can be performed they require long simulation times before convergence is reached. Particle image velocimetry (PIV) has matured over the years as an experimental method that can be readily applied in industrial wind tunnel facilities