Forward flight

Actuator disc theory

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Rotorcraft Mechanics AE4-314
Momentum Theory- Forward flight
Glauert (1926) proposed a modified actuator disc
approach Forward flight
The rotor disturbs all the
air in the neighbourhood,
from far above to far
below and downwards

VR  V 2  vi 2
The mass flow passing through the rotor:
m   R VR
 2
T
vi  Glauert
T  m  2vi 2 R 2VR formula

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Rotorcraft Mechanics AE4-314
Glauert formula Forward Climbing flight

VR   V sin  d  vi  
V cos  d 
2 2
d

d
T 
But vi  (Glauert) 
2  R VR
2
 d

2
 T  1
vi 2   
 2 R 2  V cos  2  V sin   v 2
  d d i
vih4
V vi T
Non-dimensional V  , vi  vi h 
vih vih 2  R 2

2 1
vi  Glauert formula for vi in
V cos  d   V sin  d  vi 
2 2
forward flight

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Rotorcraft Mechanics AE4-314
How to calculate vi in forward flight?
2 1
vi 
V cos  d   V sin  d  vi 
2 2 Glauert formula

1) By simplification
1
vi 
In high-speed flight: V
vi<<V

In low-speed flight: d ~0 vi  V 2vi 2 1  0

4 vi 2 
1
V 2  vi 2
Ds
=0 and  1
W
1
vi 
In vertical climbing flight: d =900 C  vi
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Rotorcraft Mechanics AE4-314
How to calculate vi in forward flight?

vi 4 V 2vi 2 1  0

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vi 
V
(C  vi )vi  1

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Rotorcraft Mechanics AE4-314
How to calculate vi in forward flight?
Solve numerically Glauert eq (4th order eq. in vi)
2 1
vi 
2

V cos  d  V sin  d  vi
2
  
How to calculate d? Trim condition parallel V (climb flight):

T T sin  d  D fus  W sin   0

V TPP
 Tsind
Horiz.
d D fus
Dfus sin  d   sin 
W W
= 0 for forward flight
Dfus = fuselage parasite drag
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Rotorcraft Mechanics AE4-314
How to calculate vi in forward flight?
2) Algorithm to solve numerically Glauert eq
Given V, g

Trim condition
D fus
sin  d   sin 
W

V sin  d ; V cos  d

Solve numerically
equation in vi

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Rotorcraft Mechanics AE4-314
How to calculate vi in forward flight?
“Hafner diagram” general climbing / descending flight

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Rotorcraft Mechanics AE4-314