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http://dx.doi.org/10.20910/JASE.2022.16.6.54

Study on the Aerodynamic Characteristics of an Wing Depending on the Propeller Mounting Position  

Inseo, Choi (Department of Aeronautical and Mechanical Design Engineering, Korea National University of Transportation)
Cheolheui, Han (Department of Aeronautical and Mechanical Design Engineering, Korea National University of Transportation)
Publication Information
Journal of Aerospace System Engineering / v.16, no.6, 2022 , pp. 54-63 More about this Journal
Abstract
Recently, electric propulsion aircraft with various propeller mounting positions have been under construction. The position of the propeller relative to the wing can significantly affect the aerodynamic performance of the aircraft. Placing the propeller in front of the wing produces a complex swirl flow behind or around the propeller. The up/downwash induced by the swirl flow can alter the wing's local effective angle of attack, causing a change in the aerodynamic load distribution across the wing's spanwise direction. This study investigated the influence of the distance between a propeller and a wing on the aerodynamic loads on the wing. The swirl flow generated by the propeller was modelled using an actuator disk theory, and the wing's aerodynamics were analysed with the VSPAERO tool. Results of the study were compared to wind tunnel test data and established that both axial and spanwise distance between the propeller and the wing positively affect the wing's lift-to-drag ratio. Specifically, it was observed that the lift-to-drag ratio increases when the propeller is positioned higher than the wing.
Keywords
Propeller-wing Interaction; Swirl Flow; Aerodynamic Load Distribution;
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