A study on rotational augmentation using CFD analysis of flow in the inboard region of the MEXICO rotor blades : A study on rotational augmentation by CFD analysis of the MEXICO rotor

This work presents an analysis of data from existing as well as new full-rotor computational fluid dynamics computations on the MEXICO rotor, with focus on the flow around the inboard parts of the blades. The boundary layer separation characteristics on the airfoil sections in the inboard parts of the rotor are analysed using the pressure and the skin friction data at a range of angles of attack.

These data are used to gain insight on the relative behaviour of separated boundary layers in 3D flow compared with 2D flow. It has been found that separation on airfoils in rotating flows is different from that in 2D flows in two respects: (i) there is a chord-wise postponement (or delay) of the separation point, and (ii) the angle of attack at which separation is initiated is higher in 3D compared with 2D.

Comments are made on the mechanism of stall delay, and the main differences between the skin friction and pressure distribution behaviours in 2D and 3D rotating flows are highlighted. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.