A Computer Based Model for the Numerical

Approach of the Vortex Theory

By

Abdallah Samad

A progress report presented to

Dr. Francois Morency

Department of Mechanical Engineering

cole de Tchnologie Suprieure
February 2017
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 Chapter 1 Introduction

1.1 Mathematical Approach

The current work will examine the vortex theory around propellers presented in
Aerodynamics, Aeronautics and Flight Mechanics 2nd Edition. The proposed theory
will be used to develop a MATLAB based model to compute the flow behavior derived
from the vortex theory.

Figure 1.1 Geometry of the Clark-Y airfoil

The approach will be described in the following text with the results obtained so far
for CLARK-Y 5868-R6 airfoil.

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 Figure 1.1 presents the geometry of the mentioned airfoil, with the pitch diameter
ratio, chord to diameter ratio and thickness to chord ratio between the trailing edge and
the leading edge.
The following steps are taken in order to predict the propellers performance. We
will divide the procedure into steps that should be taken each at a time to complete the
computation.

1.1.1 Step 1

Identify the position x at which the point being studied is stationed, set the advance
ratio J for a given value and the blade angle at which the propellers blade is at.

Using the pitch-diameter ratio read from figure 1.1 for these two points, the pitch
angle can be calculated using the following relation:

Calculate the angle using the following relation:

Then, and for x=1 with the blade angle specified, the other advance ratio can be
calculated by:

1.1.2 Step 2

Calculate the pitch angle relative to the zero lift line given by:

Where t/c is read from Figure 1.1 for a given x.

1.1.3 Step 3

Calculate the Prandtls Tip Loss Factor,

( )

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 Where

1.1.4 Step 4

Calculate the correction for the angle of attack

Where is read from Figure 1.1 and

1.1.5 Step 5

Calulate the correction for the Lift Coefficient,

( ) ( )

1.1.6 Step 6

Set

1.1.7 Step 7

Calculate

[ ( )]

1.1.8 Step 8

Calculate the corrections for both the angle of attack and the lift coefficient,
mentioned earlier.

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1.1.9 Step 9

Calculate the angle of incidence

( )

1.1.10 Step 10

Calculate the actual angle of attack

1.1.11 Step 11

Calculate the lift coefficient

1.1.12 Step 12

Calculate the velocity ratio

[( ) ( ) ]

1.1.13 Step 13

Calculate the bound circulation

1.1.14 Step 14

Calculate wt

1.1.15 Step 15

Repeat steps 7 to 14 until a convergence is obtained on the blade incident angle.

1.1.16 Step 16

Calculate the drag coefficient

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1.1.17 Step 17

Calculate the Thrust and Power coefficients

( ) [ ]

( ) [ ]

1.1.18 Step 18

Redo the work for a range of x between 0 and 1 and a range of advance ratio
between 0.2 and 1.8 to plot the graphs for the thrust and power coefficients.

1.2 Computer Based Model

The computer based model is still under development and will be further explained
in the next progress report.

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 References