The Contribution of Swirl Recovery to the Induced Drag of Propeller-Wing Systems

From the desire to reduce the impact of traveling on the environment and the increase in fuel prices over the past years, the propeller has regained interest as a propulsion mechanism in the aviation industry. Two main reasons can be found in their high propulsive efficiency and ability to combine with electric motors. The scaling of the motors...

Evaluating the feasibility of studying propeller-wing interaction through ground-based high-speed experimental taxi-tests: A numerical study comparing a propeller powered aircraft in cruising free-flight with high-speed taxiing

The Dutch Electric Aviation Centre possesses and uses a Cessna Skymaster 337F as an experimental flying testbed to help gain knowledge to aid the transition towards hybrid/ electric aviation. The interaction between the rear propeller slipstream and the horizontal tail has been likened to the interaction of propeller-wing configurations seen on...

Effect of Flap Position on Propeller-Wing-Flap aerodynamic interaction for Distributed Propulsion Systems: An experimental approach

Aviation is responsible for a large part of the emissions due to transportation, which is why, in recent years, a trend towards implementing sustainability in aviation has emerged. In small aircraft, the concept of Leading-Edge Distributed Propulsion (LEDP) can provide aerodynamic advantages to reduce fuel consumption thanks to the ability to...

A sensitivity study on the aerodynamic performance of a wingtip-mounted tractor propeller-wing system

Wingtip-mounted propellers have the ability to enhance the propeller-wing system performance. For inboard-up rotating tractor propellers, the swirl in the propeller slipstream can be used on the wing to reduce the influence of the wingtip vortex, decreasing drag. Furthermore, lift is enhanced by increasing dynamic pressure and angle of attack...

Improved modeling of propeller-wing interactions with a lifting-line approach: Investigation of a suitable correction method to account for the finite slipstream height

Propellers have a high propulsive efficiency and can help in the reduction of fuel consumption of aircraft. For propellers which are mounted in front of the wing, the interaction of the slipstream with the lifting surfaces can alter the lift distribution significantly. In the use of modern optimization tools, fast and accurate analysis of the...

Numerical Assessment of Directional Stability and Control with Tip-mounted Propellers

A propeller has a high propulsive efficiency, yet inherently leaves the air it propels swirling. The efficiency of a propeller can be enhanced by placing it in the tip vortex of a wing. Such a tip-mounted propeller configuration lets the vortex created by the wing and the vortex created by the propeller counteract each other, enhancing the...

Aerodynamic modelling and performance analysis of over-the-wing propellers: A combined numerical and experimental study

The research objective is to analyze the aerodynamic interaction effects and quantify the performance of over-the-wing propeller systems. To achieve this objective, two wind tunnel experiments have been performed to characterize the most important aerodynamic interaction effects of a single propeller installed over-the-wing. Results feature wing...

Simulation & Analysis of the Aerodynamic Interactions between Distributed Propellers and Wings

The recent advances in complementary technologies have given a new impulse in the research activities related to distributed propulsion. Light electric engines, whose performance is rather insensitive to scaling, improved battery capacities and autonomous flight all contribute to this trend. Promising concepts featuring electrically powered...

Wing Optimisation for Tractor Propeller Configurations: Validation and Application of Low-Order Numerical Models Adapted to Include Propeller-Induced Velocities

Even though propellers are the oldest form of propulsion, they are still a popular choice for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and passenger aircraft in certain market segments. If the propellers are mounted on the wing, strong propeller-wing interactions alter the aerodynamic efficiency of the aircraft. Using low-order numerical models, it is...