Propeller blade design thickness and blockage issues due to source-induced factors
Loading...
Authors
Hunt, David S.
Subjects
Advisors
Date of Issue
2001-02
Date
February 2001
Publisher
Monterey California. Naval Postgraduate School
Language
en_US
Abstract
A propeller lifting-surface design and analysis program is improved upon by implementing enhancements in the source distribution calculation to represent the blade thickness. It is recognized that the present method of setting the source line distribution representing blade thickness (currently based on linearized slender-body theory for an isolated foil section) may introduce significant errors. This is the case for propulsors with a combination of a large thickness/chord ratio (blockage effect) and numerous blades (cascade effect). A source panel (area) method was developed to more accurately model these effects. This method uses the lattice structure of the current PBD-14 code from which to compute the source-induced velocity factors between the blades, hub, and duct, if present. Using the method of images allows the hub and duct to be modeled as panel images from the blade panels. The source-induced effects of the whole propulsor are accounted for by using a panel method to obtain a source distribution along the mean camber surface of the blade. Invoking the kinematic boundary condition on the true blade suction and pressure surfaces solves this system of linear equations, which represent the blade thickness distribution. This robust formulation assigns source strengths more accurately over a much larger range of thickness/chord ratios and increasing numbers of blades, as evidenced by a more accurate velocity streamline trace representation of the actual pressure and suction side surfaces of the blade. Experimental validation is demonstrated for open and ducted flow stators.
Type
Thesis
Description
CIVINS (Civilian Institutions) Thesis document
Series/Report No
Department
Mechanical Engineering
Organization
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funder
CIVINS
Format
67 leaves. ; 28 cm.
Citation
Distribution Statement
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.