Blade Shape Optimization and Analysis of a Propeller for VTOL Based on an Inverse Method
With the rapid development of vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft, the blade design of a propeller suitable for VTOL aircraft with a wide range of operating conditions has become a challenging and popular task. This paper proposes a multi-objective optimization framework for a VTOL propelle...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2022-04-01
|
| Series: | Applied Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/12/7/3694 |
| _version_ | 1797440283513716736 |
|---|---|
| author | Xinglu Xia Dongli Ma Liang Zhang Xing’an Liu Keran Cong |
| author_facet | Xinglu Xia Dongli Ma Liang Zhang Xing’an Liu Keran Cong |
| author_sort | Xinglu Xia |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | With the rapid development of vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft, the blade design of a propeller suitable for VTOL aircraft with a wide range of operating conditions has become a challenging and popular task. This paper proposes a multi-objective optimization framework for a VTOL propeller using an inverse design method at the cruising stage, which is developed from the Betz optimum theory and blade element momentum theory (BEMT). Different from passing studies, the maximum thrust-to-weight ratio at hover (MTWRH) is taken as one of the two objectives in this paper, which is closely related to the wind-resistance capability and maneuverability during takeoff and landing. The other objective is the energy consumption of the whole mission profile. A fixed pitch propeller (FPP) and a variable pitch propeller (VPP) are both optimized using the proposed framework for the Vahana A<sup>3</sup> tilt-wing aircraft and validated by the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method. The influences of the level flight energy ratio, hover disk loading and cruising speed toward the optimization result are analyzed, respectively. The results show that the MTWRH has a significant impact on the optimization result both for the FPP and VPP. A comparison between the two propeller forms validates the advantages of the VPP both in energy saving and takeoff maneuverability. The quantitative rules of this advantage with the level flight energy ratio are calculated to provide a reference for choosing the appropriate form. Overall, the methodology and general rules presented in this paper support the propeller optimization and form selection for VTOL aircraft. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T12:04:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9f2d21e404834a8188d97343dcedb003 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T12:04:56Z |
| publishDate | 2022-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-9f2d21e404834a8188d97343dcedb0032023-11-30T22:59:14ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172022-04-01127369410.3390/app12073694Blade Shape Optimization and Analysis of a Propeller for VTOL Based on an Inverse MethodXinglu Xia0Dongli Ma1Liang Zhang2Xing’an Liu3Keran Cong4School of Aeronautic Science and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, ChinaSchool of Aeronautic Science and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, ChinaSchool of Aeronautic Science and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, ChinaSchool of Aeronautic Science and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, ChinaSchool of Aeronautic Science and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, ChinaWith the rapid development of vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft, the blade design of a propeller suitable for VTOL aircraft with a wide range of operating conditions has become a challenging and popular task. This paper proposes a multi-objective optimization framework for a VTOL propeller using an inverse design method at the cruising stage, which is developed from the Betz optimum theory and blade element momentum theory (BEMT). Different from passing studies, the maximum thrust-to-weight ratio at hover (MTWRH) is taken as one of the two objectives in this paper, which is closely related to the wind-resistance capability and maneuverability during takeoff and landing. The other objective is the energy consumption of the whole mission profile. A fixed pitch propeller (FPP) and a variable pitch propeller (VPP) are both optimized using the proposed framework for the Vahana A<sup>3</sup> tilt-wing aircraft and validated by the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method. The influences of the level flight energy ratio, hover disk loading and cruising speed toward the optimization result are analyzed, respectively. The results show that the MTWRH has a significant impact on the optimization result both for the FPP and VPP. A comparison between the two propeller forms validates the advantages of the VPP both in energy saving and takeoff maneuverability. The quantitative rules of this advantage with the level flight energy ratio are calculated to provide a reference for choosing the appropriate form. Overall, the methodology and general rules presented in this paper support the propeller optimization and form selection for VTOL aircraft.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/12/7/3694VTOLpropellerBEMTinverse methodfixed pitchvariable pitch |
| spellingShingle | Xinglu Xia Dongli Ma Liang Zhang Xing’an Liu Keran Cong Blade Shape Optimization and Analysis of a Propeller for VTOL Based on an Inverse Method Applied Sciences VTOL propeller BEMT inverse method fixed pitch variable pitch |
| title | Blade Shape Optimization and Analysis of a Propeller for VTOL Based on an Inverse Method |
| title_full | Blade Shape Optimization and Analysis of a Propeller for VTOL Based on an Inverse Method |
| title_fullStr | Blade Shape Optimization and Analysis of a Propeller for VTOL Based on an Inverse Method |
| title_full_unstemmed | Blade Shape Optimization and Analysis of a Propeller for VTOL Based on an Inverse Method |
| title_short | Blade Shape Optimization and Analysis of a Propeller for VTOL Based on an Inverse Method |
| title_sort | blade shape optimization and analysis of a propeller for vtol based on an inverse method |
| topic | VTOL propeller BEMT inverse method fixed pitch variable pitch |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/12/7/3694 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT xingluxia bladeshapeoptimizationandanalysisofapropellerforvtolbasedonaninversemethod AT donglima bladeshapeoptimizationandanalysisofapropellerforvtolbasedonaninversemethod AT liangzhang bladeshapeoptimizationandanalysisofapropellerforvtolbasedonaninversemethod AT xinganliu bladeshapeoptimizationandanalysisofapropellerforvtolbasedonaninversemethod AT kerancong bladeshapeoptimizationandanalysisofapropellerforvtolbasedonaninversemethod |