Aircraft Propellers

Lecturer:

Tutor:

Supervisor:

Department of Aerospace Engineering

Synopsis:

Aerodynamic characteristics of propellers. Methods describing the flow field past a propeller blade. Thrust, power and efficiency of propellers. Load distribution along a propeller blade. Design of a propeller blade. Optimization procedures giving maximum efficiency.

Requirements:

Completing the courses: Low Speed Aerodynamics, High Speed Aerodynamics, Mechanics of Flight.

Syllabus of lectures:

Propeller blade: kinematic relations.

Propeller thrust and power.

Aerodynamic characteristics of propellers (fixed and variable pitch).

Relation of a propeller thrust to the flight speed.

Ideal propulsor. Ideal propeller.

Vortex description of propellers. Vortex systems describing a propeller flow field.

Distribution of circulation along a propeller blade.

Design of a propeller blade. Methods to optimize efficiency.

Syllabus of tutorials:

Individual project.

Study Objective:

Study materials:

Alexandrov V. L.: Aircraft Propellers.

Theodorsen T.: Theory of Propellers.

Leisham J.G.: Principles of Helicopter Aerodynamics.

Note:

Time-table for winter semester 2011/2012:

Time-table is not available yet

Time-table for summer semester 2011/2012:

Time-table is not available yet

The course is a part of the following study plans: