Open AccessNumerical Simulation for The Forward Flight of the Tri-copter Using Virtual Blade Model
Author(s) -
Doan Kim Khanh Tran
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of advanced research in fluid mechanics and thermal sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.247
H-Index - 13
ISSN - 2289-7879
DOI - 10.37934/arfmts.67.1.132
Subject(s) - blade element theory , propeller , rotor (electric) , thrust , advance ratio , aerodynamics , radius , solver , aerospace engineering , simulation , helicopter rotor , angle of attack , frame (networking) , computer science , mechanics , physics , blade pitch , engineering , mechanical engineering , marine engineering , computer security , programming language
This paper presents the process of implementing numerical simulation for a tri-copterin forward flight using the open source code OpenFOAM with the library of VirtualBlade Model (VBM). The tri-copter has 0.75-meter radius and 15-Newton weight. Itspropulsion system consists of three two-blade propellers typed XOAR PJP-T-L 1245with12-inch diameter and 4.5-inch pitch. In the first part, the aerodynamicperformance of the tri-copter’s frame (not including the propellers) is investigated atthe range of angle of attack from -12 degree to 12 degree by simulation in OpenFOAM.Secondly, these force coefficients are exploited in the analytical approach based on theBlade Element Theory (BET) to determine the rotor disk plane angle and the tri-copter’sframe angle for steady, level, forward flight at 15-m/s. Finally, after obtaining therelative angle of -2 degree between the rotor tip-path-plane and the tri-copter’s frame,the simulation for the tri-copter in forward flight including three rotor disks rotating at4732-RPM will be carried out through the rotorDisksource library of the open sourcecode OpenFOAM. A steady, incompressible solver with k-ω SST turbulence model isapplied in the simple Foam algorithm. The aerodynamic forces and the dynamic fieldssurrounding the tri-copter will be discussed in detail, while the effect of tri-copter’sframe on rotor operation will also be considered. Moreover, the results of thrust fromeach propeller from simulation are compared to that of analytical BET method and thatof propeller performance provided by the manufacturer. This comparison provesrational of using virtual disk to replace real propeller in the CFD simulation.