Blade-Tip Vortex Detection in Maneuvering Flight Using the Background-Oriented Schlieren Technique

Abstract

The background-oriented schlieren technique was used to visualize the blade-tip vortices of a Eurocopter AS532UL Cougar helicopter in maneuvering flight. The test program covered a large part of the flight envelope, including maneuvers such as hover flight, fast forward flight, flare maneuvers, and high-speed turns. For selected flight conditions, the aerodynamic results are presented here. It is shown that, with the reference-free background-oriented schlieren method, the detection of vortex filaments up to vortex ages of 540 deg is possible. The visualization of the vortex system is used to detect aerodynamic phenomena such as blade–vortex interactions, vortex–airframe interactions, and the occurrence of smooth sinuous disturbances. A detailed description of the applied reference-free background-oriented schlieren setup is given, and the suitability of different natural backgrounds for the background-oriented schlieren method is analyzed.