A coupled free wake - CFD method for the simulation of helicopter rotor flow

A new coupled wake - CFD method is used to include realistic wake effects in CFD solutions for rotor flow in hover. The analytical method for predicting hovering rotor wake is described to investigate the motion of the helical tip vortex. Beginning with the generalized wake model, a semi-empirical correction for the vortex core effect on rotor wake is made. Then on the condition of circulation and wake geometry convergence, the free wake calculation is accomplished. Finally, Euler-Navier-Stokes equations are solved for transonic rotor flow employing Jameson's finite-volume explicit Runge-Kutta time-stepping scheme. The results are compared with the respective references and experimental data.