Simulation of the aerodynamic interaction between rotor and ground obstacle using vortex method

The mutual aerodynamic interaction between rotor wake and surrounding obstacles is complex, and generates high compensatory workload for pilots, degradation of the handling qualities, and performance, and unsteady force on the structure of the obstacles. The interaction also affects the minimum distance between rotorcrafts and obstacles to operate safely. A vortex-based approach is then employed to investigate the complex aerodynamic interaction between rotors and ground obstacle, and identify the distance where the interaction ends, and this is also the objective of the GARTEUR AG22 working group activities. In this approach, the aerodynamic loads of the rotor blades are described through a panel method, and the unsteady behaviour of the rotor wake is modelled using a vortex particle method. The effects of the ground plane and obstacle are accounted for via a viscous boundary model. The method is then applied to a “Large” and a “Wee” rotor near the ground and obstacle, and compared with the earlier experiments carried out at the University of Glasgow. The results show that predicted rotor induced inflow and flow field compare reasonably well with the experiments. Furthermore, at certain conditions, the tip vortices are pushed up and re-injected into the rotor wake due to the effect of the obstacle resulting in a recirculation. Moreover, contrary to without the obstacle case, peak and thickness of the radial outwash near the obstacle are smaller due to the barrier effect of the obstacle, and an upwash is observed. In addition, as the rotor closes to the obstacle, the rotor slipstreams impinge directly on the obstacle, and the upwash near the obstacle is faster, indicating a stronger interaction between the rotor wake and the obstacle. In addition, contrary to the case without the obstacle, the fluctuations of the rotor thrust, and rolling and pitching moments are obviously strengthened. When the distance between the rotor and the obstacle is larger than 3R, the effect of the obstacle is small. © 2018, The Author(s).