Test of the High Speed Propeller HT3
S1MA Windtunnel
The applied aerodynamics studies carried out on propellers mainly concern propellers of transport aircraft and, to a lesser extent, propellers of light aircraft and high altitude reconnaissance aircraft.
High performance computing methods and wind tunnel tests were used to analyze the performances of isolated propellers and to understand the problems related to the integration of the propulsion system into the aircraft.
Unsteady 3D Computation of a Transport Aircraft
Activities
The experience acquired over the last 25 years was used to carry out investigations and actively participate in research operations on the aerodynamics and aeroacoustics of propellers, generally in close relationship with European manufacturers.
As an example, we can mention ONERA's leading role in the aerodynamic definition of the HT3 fast propeller, the model was tested in the context of the Charme operation in 1985 and 1987 in the S1MA wind tunnel, then the participation in the studies on the fitting of the propeller onto the aircraft in the context of the Gemini 2 (1994-1997) and Apian (1997-1999) European programs. In this last program, the aerodynamics calculations performed to predict the propeller's performances were also used for the acoustic predictions by the partners in the program.
The team has also participated in the A400M studies.
The aerodynamic computing methods available range from the simple tool for calculating performances (LPC method) to the 3D Euler and Navier-Stokes code elsA. The current state of the art is that the team has mastered the 3D Navier-Stokes computation on an isolated propeller and the 3D Euler computation for studying the interactions. In addition, the interactions can also be studied by simulating the propeller's operation using an actuator-disk model.
Publications
J.-M. Bousquet, P.Gardarein Improvements on computations of high speed propeller unsteady aerodynamics
ECCOMAS DCFD 2001, ONERA TP 2001-191
P. Gardarein Etude de l'interaction hélice-voilure
34e AAAF Mars 1998, ONERA TP 1998-23
M. Amato, F. Boyle, J. Eaton, P. Gardarein Euler/Navier-Stokes simulation for propulsion-airframe
integration of advanced propeller-driven aircraft in the European
Research Programs GEMINI/APIAN
ICAS-98-5,10,2
