Helicopter Aerodynamics

Momentum Theory
• The rotor is conceived as an 'actuator disc', across which there is a sudden
increase of pressure, uniformly spread.
• In hover the column of air passing through the disc is a clearly defined
streamtube above and below the disc: outside this streamtube the air is
undisturbed.
• No rotation is imparted to the flow.
• As air is sucked into the disc from above, the pressure falls. An increase of
pressure p occurs at the disc, after which the pressure falls again in the
outflow, eventually arriving back at the initial or atmospheric level p
• Velocity in the streamtube increases from zero at 'upstream infinity' to a value
Vi at the disc and continues to increase as pressure falls in the outflow,
reaching a value V  at 'downstream infinity'.
• Continuity of mass flow in the streamtube requires that the velocity is
continuous through the disc.
Hovering Flight
Figure of Merit
 Comments

A good figure of merit is around 0.75, the

profile drag accounting for about one quarter
of total rotor power. We may note that for the
helicopter as a whole, some power is also
required to drive the tail rotor, to overcome
transmission losses and to drive auxiliary
components: as a result the induced power in
hover amounts to only 60-65% of the total
power absorbed.
Vertical Flight
Descent Flight
Autorotation
 Example #1
• A tilt-rotor aircraft has a gross weight of
60,500 lb. (27500 kg).
• The rotor diameter is 38 feet (11.58 m).
• Assume FM=0.75, Transmission losses=5%
• Compute power needed to hover at sea level
on a hot day.

© L. Sankar Helicopter
16
Aerodynamics
Example #1 (Continued)
Disk Area  A   19
2

A  1134.12 square feet

Density  0.00238 slugs/cubi c feet
There are two rotors. T  30250 lbf
T
Induced velocity, v 
2 A
v  74.86 ft/sec
Downwash in the far wake  150 ft/sec !
Ideal Power  Tv  30250 x 74.86 lb ft/sec
Ideal Power  4117 HP
Actual Power  ideal Power/FM  4117/0.75
Actual power  5490 HP
For the two rotors, total actual power  10980 HP
There is 5% transmiss ion loss
Power supplied by the engine to the shaft  10980 *1.05  11528 HP

© L. Sankar Helicopter
17
Aerodynamics
 Human Powered Flight?
Weight  160lbf
Rotor Radius ~ 6ft
Rotor Area  100 sq.ft
Desnity  0.00238 slugs.
W
Ideal Power  W  5.33HP
2 A
Actual Power  Ideal Power/Figu re of Merit
 5.33/0.8  6.7 HP

© L. Sankar Helicopter
18
Aerodynamics
 Summary
• The place of momentum theory is that it gives
a broad understanding of the functionin2: of
the rotor and p
• The place of momentum theory is that it gives
a broad understandim"
• of the functionin2: of the rotor and orovides
basic relationshipsrovides basic relationships
forward Flight(Momentum Theory)
Forward flight (Blade Element Theory)
 Flapping Coefficient
(J. Seddon page:64-66 )
 Flapping Coefficient
(J. Seddon page:64-66 )
 Flapping Coefficient
(Helicopter Aerodynamics by J. Seddon page:64-66 )