Fuselage-Rotor Aerodynamic Interaction: Modeling, Simulation and Results Obtained

Abstract

Dr. van der Wall joins NASA Ames on a Research Sabbatical from August 13 to Nov. 21, focusing on the modeling of the isolated fuselage-induced flow in the air volume of the main rotor operation above it. He will provide a brief sketch of the CFD computations to obtain the flow field data. Then, the underlying principles and assumptions for reduced-order semi-empirical modeling are addressed. Three different fuselages have been modeled during the sabbatical: LRTA as used for UH-60 airloads and IBC programs; RTA as used for Bo105 wind tunnel validation and IBC programs; HART as used for B015 model-scale wind tunnel validation and HHC programs. Many examples about the comparison between CFD data and the results obtained with the model will be given both within the volume modeled and outside. Finally, the model has been used in a comprehensive rotor simulation program for comparison of isolated rotor results versus including the fuselage. The fuselage influence on rotor trim controls, thrust and power will be shown.