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19660012890 · Propeller-rotor whirl flutter - A state-of- the-art review

NASA · 1965

Open the PDFPublic domain · NASATechnical Reports

Overview

Propeller rotor whirl flutter and instability in conventional and Vertical Takeoff and Landing /VTOL/ aircraft

Pages
·
46

Key points

  • Propeller whirl flutter is a dynamic instability that can occur in flexibly mounted aircraft engine-propeller combinations.
  • The phenomenon was first analytically discovered in 1938 and became a practical concern in 1960 after fatal accidents involving turboprop aircraft.
  • Recent amendments to U.S. Civil Air Regulations require whirl flutter to be included in the dynamic evaluation of transport aircraft.
  • Whirl flutter is influenced by system parameters such as stiffness, damping, and pivot location, with a strong dependency on these factors for stability.
  • Studies have shown that the use of hinged or flexible propeller-rotors can alter the stability characteristics of whirl flutter.
Frequently asked questions
What is propeller whirl flutter?

Propeller whirl flutter is a dynamic instability that can occur in flexibly mounted aircraft engine-propeller combinations.

When did propeller whirl flutter become a practical concern?

It became a practical concern in 1960 after the loss of two turboprop aircraft in fatal accidents.

What do recent regulations require regarding whirl flutter?

Recent amendments to U.S. Civil Air Regulations require that whirl flutter be included in the dynamic evaluation of transport aircraft.

What factors influence the stability of whirl flutter?

The stability of whirl flutter is influenced by system parameters such as stiffness, damping, and pivot location.

How can the stability characteristics of whirl flutter be altered?

The use of hinged or flexible propeller-rotors can alter the stability characteristics of whirl flutter.

Document

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PROPELLERLROTOR WHIRL FiXITER: // A STATE-OF-THE-ART REXIEh' By Wilmer H. Reed I11 NASA Langley Research Center Langley Station, Hampton, Va., U.S.A.

Presented at t h e Symposium on t h e Noise and Loading Actions on Helicopter V/STOL Aircraft and Ground Effect Machines GPO PRICE $ CFSTI PRICE(S) $

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ff 653 July 65 PROPELIER-R(TrOR WHIRL FLUTTER: A STATE-OF-THE-ART REVIEW

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>i y z h e r E. Reed III* NASA Langley Research Center Langley Station, Hampton, Va., U.S.A.

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- ABSTRACT

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The basic phenomenon of propeller whirl i n s t a b i l i t y i n connection with conventional and V/STOL a i r c r a f t i s described; theoretical and experimental investigations of the problem from t h e time it f i r s t became of concern on con- temporary turboprop a i r c r a f t t o t h e present a r e summarized; and some considera- t i o n i s given t o possible future configurations having hinged o r highly flex- i b l e propeller-rotors.

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INTRODUCTION -

Although t h e phenomenon known as propeller whirl f l u t t e r - a dynamic

i n s t a b i l i t y t h a t can occur i n a flexibly mounted a i r c r a f t engine-propeller combination - w a s discovered analytically by Taylor and Browne i n 1938 (ref. l ) , it w a s not u n t i l its "rediscovery" i n 1960 t h a t it became a problem of practi- ~ ,-" c a l concern. --- Following the loss of two turboprop a i r c r a f t i n fatal accidents it w a s established i n wind-tunnel investigations (ref. 2) t h a t propeller whirl f l u t t e r could have occurred if the nacelle stiffness was severely reduced, say by a s t r u c t u r a l f a i l u r e . I n t h e undamaged condition t h e a i r c r a f t had an adequate margin of s a f e t y from whirl f l u t t e r . I n addition t o t h i s wind-tunnel

*

Assistant Head, Aeroelasticity Branch, Dynamic Loads Division.

~-4536 investigation f o r a specific configuration some generalized trend studies were a l s o conducted at NASA-Langley i n order t o identify and study the basic param- eters involved i n propeller whirl f l u t t e r (refs. 3 through 6).

As a r e s u l t of -these experiences on a turboprop a i r c r a f t , and the f a c t t h a t VTOL configurations are l i k e l y t o have unconventional propeller-rotor systems, whirl f l u t t e r has now become a design consideration on new propeller- driven a i r c r a f t . These considerations a r e reflected i n recent amendments t o U . S . Civil A i r Regulations ( r e f . 7) which require t h a t whirl f l u t t e r be included as a part of t h e dynamic evaluation of transport aircraf't, and that no f l u t t e r s h a l l occur as a result of f a i l u r e of any single element of an engine mount structure.

The purpose of t h i s paper is t o review some progress that has been made i n t h e area of propeller whirl f l u t t e r since the time the phenomenon became t h e subject of intensive study i n 1960. Following a description of the basic mechanism of propeller whirl f l u t t e r , t h e paper summarizes some principal findings of generalized trend studies f o r idealized systems, and then i l l u s - t r a t e s how these r e s u l t s can be a l t e r e d by the use of propeller-rotors with hinged blades and with highly f l e x i b l e twisted blades. I n addition, the paper reviews the s t a t u s of propeller aerodynamic coefficients used f o r the prediction of whirl f l u t t e r on conventional and VTOL aircraft; discusses some e f f e c t s of wing f l e x i b i l i t y on whirl f l u t t e r ; and, finally, c i t e s an example wherein w h i r l f l u t t e r of a Specific VTOL configuration i s studied by means of an aeroelasti- c a l l y scaled wind-tunnel model.

SYMBOLS Thrust thrust coefficient, CT C propeller chord lift-curve slope C 2U nacelle viscous damping factors i n pitch and yaw directions C e , C + e hinge offset distance on flappin$-blade propeller F + i G o s c i l l a t i n g l i f t function JtV

H propeller-tip- speed rat io, -

SlR I t o t a l moment of i n e r t i a of system about pivot R

mr(r - e)dr

13 = $ LR m ( r - e ) d r

mass moment of i n e r t i a of propeller about rotation axis, Ix

i = J - - i

JtV J adxance ratio, - 3 - , K = aerodynamic moments about nacelle pivot point Q,M,,, m propeller biade mass per unit length N number of blades R propeller radius r l o c a l blade radius R

m ( r - e ) d r

rotational spring constants of nacelle S O , E + f l i g h t velocity 2 hinge offset R’ viscous-damping r e l a t i v e t o c r i t i c a l damping of engine mount system pitch and yaw angles of propeller shaft r e l a t i v e t o s t a t i c thrust axis p + i v root of characteristic equation

damping r a t i o (+ unstable, - s t a b l e )

whirl frequency r a t i o (+ f o r forward mode, - f o r backward m o d e )

air density P

n propeller rotational frequency

propeller whirl frequency u) cantilever fundamental frequency of nonrotating propeller blade 9 3

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uncoupled pitch and yaw frequencies of system with nonrotating . U J e , v propeller uncoupled wing bending frequency for r i g i d nacelle and nonrotating % propeller fiiijje;;tsl - , . : . ; . , - ::AFL~~ be~fiir,rr-tsrsicn frpmipnmr for r i si d nacelle u1 a-- -- -u and nonrotating propeller MECHANISM O F P R O P E L U R WHIRL FLUTTER I n order t o introduce the basic ingredients of propeller whirl f l u t t e r it i s convenient t o reduce t h e problem t o i t s most elementary form as w a s done i n references 3 through 6. I n figure 1 t h e sketch represents an idealized system i n which t h e power plant o r nacelle is assumed t o be restrained by a set of springs and dampers at a pivot located behind t h e propeller disk. If t h e propeller blades and the nacelle structure a r e considered t o be rigid, the dynamic behavior of t h e system can be described i n terms of 8 and which represent small angular deflections i n pitch and y a w of t h e propeller axis r e l a t i v e t o t h e s t a t i c equilibrium position. The equations of motion, also indicltie ifie i-~t-ii-e of L1*- - r o n 4 r r - . n P n r m n a i n v n l v d . U U G "UI *VU" A "I ""Y & Y . --. --- Nnt.e shown i n fiwE 1 , that, i n addition t o t h e usual dynamic forces associated with inertia, damping, and e l a s t i c properties of t h e system, gyroscopic and aerodynamic forces are introduced by t h e rotating propeller.

The dynamic behavior of t h i s system can be i l l u s t r a t e d with t h e a i d of The sketches on t h e l e f t indicate t h a t with a non- t h e sketches i n figure 2.

r o t a t i n g propeller and with aerodynamic forces neglected, natural vibrations can occur independently i n e i t h e r t h e pitch plane o r t h e yaw plane. There is However, with a rotating propeller no coupling between these two modes.

- 5 - , (center sketch) the original pitch and yaw modes no longer occur independently, but a r e coupled by gyroscopic action of the spinning propeller. The natural modes i n t h i s case are referred t o as "whirl" ( o r precession) modes i n refer- i n which the propeller hub whirls about the s t a t i c t h r u s t ence t o the manner As t h e rotational speed of the propeller increases, t h e frequency of one axis.

whirl mode increases while t h a t of the other decreases. The higher frequency mode is known as the "forward w h i r l mode" because the direction of whirl is the same as that of t h e rotating propeller. Similarly, the lower frequency mode i s i t s rotational direction i s opposite known as the "backward whirl mode" because t o t h a t of t h e propeller.

It can be shown t h a t i f the propeller blades a r e r i g i d and there a r e no aerodynamic forces on the propeller t h i s mechanical system i s always stable.

blade elements However, since whirl modes produce angle-of-attack changes on of the propeller, aerodynamic forces a r e generated, and it i s these forces t h a t provide the mechanism f o r an i n s t a b i l i t y . Thus, j u s t a s i n c l a s s i c a l wing f l u t t e r , if the forward velocity of t h e system exceeds a certain c r i t i c a l value a dynamic i n s t a b i l i t y can be encountered. This i n s t a b i l i t y f o r rigid-blade systems invariably occurs i n the backward whirl mode.

The sketches on the right-hand side of figure 2 give an example of the manner i n which the system would respond i n the backward whirl mode following a disturbance such as a gust.

When t h e airstream velocity i s l e s s than the whirl f l u t t e r velocity, Vcrit, t h e path traced by t h e propeller hub i s a When t h e s p i r a l that converges t o t h e o r i g i n a l s t a t i c equilibrium position.

f l u t t e r speed i s exceeded, however, a s m a l l disturbance w i l l r e s u l t i n a diverging s p i r a l motion of t h e hub which w i l l continue t o build up u n t i l the structure f a i l s or i t s motion becomes limited due t o nonlinearities.

- 6 - PROPELLER-ROTOR SYSTENS: RIGID AND NONRIGID BLADES The generalized studies of c l a s s i c a l propeller whirl f l u t t e r i n refer- ences 3 through 6 were r e s t r i c t e d t o r i g i d propellers. This i s a reasonable assumption f o r conventional propeller-driven a i r c r a f t ; however, V/STOL designs often incorporate f l e x i b l e and ariicuiaiied p r u p e ~ l e ~ i - ~ t ~ i - s tkt 2';e c s q r c - mises between t h e long f l e x i b l e blades of a helicopter rotor and t h e short stiff blades of an a i r c r a f t propeller. It i s therefore of i n t e r e s t t o consider t h e manner i n which whirl f l u t t e r might be altered by the use of nonrigid propeller- rotors. O f equal i n t e r e s t here i s also the question of how rotor mechanical i n s t a b i l i t y - an i n s t a b i l i t y fed by energy of the rotating rotor rather than by

the airstream - might be a l t e r e d by the inclusion of propeller-whirl-type

aerodynamic forces.

For t h i s purpose we w i l l investigate some s t a b i l i t y characteristics of the three systems shown schematically i n figure 3. These systems each consist of a four-bladed propeller-rotor mounted, f o r convenience, on an axisymmetrical nacelle ( i n which s t i f f n e s s and i n e r t i a properties are the same i n the pitch The first system t o be considered here has r i g i d blades; and yaw directions).

the second system i s l i k e the first except the bia&es are liliiged SG 8 8 ts zlbv flapping i n t h e direction normal t o the propeller disk plane; and the t h i r d is a system with a f l e x i b l e twisted propeller-rotor. The vibration modes of importance f o r each of these systems a r e indicated by the sketches I n figure 3.

Rgsumi? of Rigid-Blade Cases The b a s i c phenomenon of propeller whirl f l u t t e r f o r systems t h a t comprise a r i g i d propeller and a flexibly mounted power plant, such as t h a t i l l u s t r a t e d i s now reasonably well understood. The s t a b i l i t y characteristics i n figure 1, - 7 - of such systems have been investigated analytically over a rather broad range of parameters by Reed and Bland (ref. 3), Houbolt and Reed ( r e f . 4), and Sewall (ref. 5 ) . I n addition, wind-tunnel studies have been conducted by Bland and Bennett ( r e f . 6) t o evaluate the theoretical prediction of propeller aero- dynamic derivatives as w e l l as whirl f l u t t e r s t a b i l i t y boundaries.

A general finding of these studies i s t h a t whirl f l u t t e r is strongly dependent on three basic system parameters: the stiffness, t h e damping, and The influence of these parameters on whirl f l u t t e r i s t h e pivot location.

typically as shown i n figure 4. For example, figure 4(a) i l l u s t r a t e s the e f f e c t of the r a t i o of pitch s t i f f n e s s t o yaw s t i f f n e s s on t h e s t a b i l i t y of a system. Note i n particular t h a t the w h i r l f l u t t e r boundary i s extended along the diagonal ray So = , 5 + ; t h i s indicates that i f a system had equal pitch and yaw stiffnesses it would be more prone t o f l u t t e r than if one of t h e s t i f f - nesses was appreciably reduced. The shape as well as t h e location of t h i s curve, however, may be a l t e r e d appreciably by the amount of s t r u c t u r a l damping i n t h e system (see ref. 4 ) . The l i n e s t h a t i n t e r s e c t each end of t h i s boundary denote the stiffnesses required t o prevent s t a t i c divergence of the system.

Figure 4(b) i s presented t o i l l u s t r a t e the powerful s t a b i l i z i n g influence of mechanical damping on whirl f l u t t e r . It i s interesting t o note t h a t if s t r u c t u r a l damping were assumed t o be zero i n whirl f l u t t e r analyses, as m y be done frequently i n wing f l u t t e r analyses, t h e s t i f f n e s s required t o prevent f l u t t e r would, i n many cases, be grossly overestimated. A s has been remarked by A. L . Head i n a discussion of propeller whirl considerations on t h e XC-142, "a l i t t l e damping goes a long way."

Finally, figure 4 ( c ) shows t h a t t h e f u r t h e r t h e pivot point i s moved from This fact, incidentally, the propeller disk t h e more stable the system becomes.

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can be a t t r i b u t e d t o t h e aerodynamic damping associated with transverse veloc- The effects of t h e parameters indicated i n fig- i t i e s of t h e propeller hub.

ure 4 and other parameters, such as advance ratio, thrust, propeller rotational

etc., are investigated i n d e t a i l i n the previously frequency, air density, mentioned generalized trend studies.

Flapping Blades The e f f e c t s of flapping hinged blades on whirl f l u t t e r have been examined i n several recent studies. The most comprehensive of these is the study by 8) i n which a considerable number of parametric Richardson and Naylor ( r e f .

variations were investigated analytically and some complementary test data pre- sented f o r a low-speed wind-tunnel model. Wind-tunnel experiments of t h i s type have a l s o been conducted by E. F. Baird of Grumman Aircraft (unpublished) and by Reed and Bennett i n reference 9. I n addition, a whirl f l u t t e r analysis f o r a specific V/STOL configuration which u t i l i z e s flapping-blade propellers i s presented by Gallardo and Flannelly i n reference 10.

The r e s u l t s which follow are based on a whirl f l u t t e r analysis of the This model shown i n figure 5 model t e s t e d by Reed and Bennett i n reference 9.

consisted of a windmilling propeller mounted on a spring restrained rod which could r o t a t e i n pitch and yaw about a set o f gimbal axes behind the propeller.

The blades are attached t o t h e hub by means of pins i n a manner such t h a t they can be e i t h e r fixed r e l a t i v e t o the hub ( t h e rigid-blade case) or allowed t o The hinges a r e oriented s o f l a p about one of two possible hinge locations.

t h a t t h e blades f l a p i n t h e direction perpendicular t o the plane of the propel- l e r disk.

- 9 - The theoretical analysis used i s based on equations developed i n refer- ence 8 wherein t h e dynamics of t h e system are expressed i n terms of four degrees of freedoms: pitch and yaw of t h e propeller disk about t h e gimbal axis and cyclic flapping of the blades i r ? t h e pitch an& y2-v directions nemal t o t h e propeller plane.

For an axisymmetric system, such as t h e one t r e a t e d herein, t h e number of degrees of freedom conveniently can be' reduced from four t o two.

This simplification i s made possible by t h e use of two complex coordinates t o represent t h e c i r c u l a r whirl modes of t h e system i n place of four real coordi- nates t o represent separately t h e pitch and yaw modes involved. For t h e sake of completeness, the f i n a l form of t h e flapping-blade system c h a r a c t e r i s t i c equation, based on derivations i n reference 8, i s presented i n t h e appendix of t h i s paper. The physical parameters of t h e model t e s t e d i n reference 9 are given i n table I.

Theoretical results f o r t h e model with r i g i d blades a r e presented i n f i g - ure 6. This figure shows i n a nondimensional form t h e variation of natural frequency and damping of t h e system (obtained from t h e roots h = p + iv of t h e characteristic equation i n t h e appendix) as a function of t h e frequency r a t i o R/oe, where 51 i s t h e propeller frequency and we t h e nacelle p i t c h o r a nonrotating propeller. i s wind- yaw frequency with Since t h e propeller milling, R is proportional t o t h e airstream velocity. I n t h e p l o t s of fre- quency ratio, obtained from t h e imaginary p a r t of a root, positive values denote forward whirl modes and negative values, backward whirl modes; i n t h e p l o t s of damping ratio, obtained from t h e real p a r t s of t h e roots, a negative value indicates a stable system and a p o s i t i v e value, an unstable system.

These r e s u l t s i l l u s t r a t e some c h a r a c t e r i s t i c features of propeller whirl f l u t t e r : the i n s t a b i l i t y develops i n the backward whirl mode and there i s no

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evidence of coupling between the two whirl modes involved.

Because of t h i s l a t t e r feature, it has been observed i n reference 8 t h a t propeller whirl may be regarded as a type of single-degree-of-freedom f l u t t e r s o long as the iiide eo:- sidered i s a whirl mode. For the system shown i n figure 6 whirl f l u t t e r is

predicted when the parameter & 2.9. The corresponding w h i r l f l u t t e r fre-

--u quency i s seen t o be about O.we.

Consider next the dynamic characteristics of t h e system when the blades A plot of the type a r e f r e e t o f l a p normal t o the propeller rotation plane.

shown i n figure 6 f o r r i g i d blades i s shown i n figure 7 f o r the same model hinged blades. The hinge offset i s O . l 3 R from the propeller rotation axis.

Motion of t h e system i s now characterized by four vibration modes. I n a l l but one of these modes t h e s t a b i l i t y increases continuously with increasing speed.

The mode i n which the i n s t a b i l i t y develops is, as i n t h e case of r i g i d blades, a backward w h i r l mode; however, the f l u t t e r velocity i s about two and one-half times higher than it w a s f o r fixed blades (Q/coe = 7.5 as compared w i t h 2.9).

A l s o shown i n figure 7 a r e the natural vibration mode shapes of t h e system a t Note that there i s relatively l i t t l e blade flapping present t h e f l u t t e r speed.

i n the f l u t t e r mode which i s identified as @ i n t h e figure. (These modes

were calculated f o r t h e propeller speed corresponding t o f l u t t e r but with aero- dynamic and damping forces ignored.)

Figure 8 shows a comparison between theory and experiment f o r t h e model For t h e rigid-blade case and f o r the 13-percent hinge t e s t e d i n reference 9.

o f f s e t case f l u t t e r occurred i n the backward whirl mode both i n the theory, as However, i n t h e experiment the indicated i n figures 6 and 7, and i n the t e s t s .

model with t h e 8-percent hinge offset f l u t t e r e d i n the forward whirl mode a t a much lower velocity than did e i t h e r of the other configurations. This forward

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whirl f l u t t e r w a s not predicted by the analysis, however nonlinearities may have been involved since t h e motion was amplitude limited and could only be i n i t i a t e d when t h e disturbing force exceeded a certain threshold level. It should be noted that, Richarbon's model with flqpl.ra blades a l s o encountered forwarri m e only way t h a t t h e analysis could be m a d e t o whirl i n s t a b i l i t i e s (ref. 8).

such an i n s t a b i l i t y w a s t o introduce large phase lags between the dis- predict placements of t h e propeller axis and the associated aerodynamic forces on t h e blades. (These aerodynamic lag e f f e c t s are related t o t h e unsteady h e l i c a l w a k e behind t h e propeller.) For example, the assumption of a 3 0 ° phase lag resulted i n forward-whirl f l u t t e r f o r the configuration t e s t e d i n reference 8.

For the configuration considered i n t h i s paper, however, aerodynamic phase lags as high as 4 5 O were assumed but an i n s t a b i l i t y i n the forward whirl mode (The phase lag assumed i n the calculations f o r could never be predicted.

f i g . 6 was 15O.)

Flexible-Twisted Blades Bending deformations of a twisted propeller blade d i f f e r from those of Whereas the t h e previously discussed flapping blade i n a fundamental way.

flapping motion of a hinged blade was assumed t o be normal t o the propeller

plane, the bending motion of a f l e x i b l e blade with t w i s t has components of ais-

placement i n t h e propeller plane a s well as components normal t o t h e plane.

The relative contribution of these two components t o a bending vibration mode of a blade w i l l depend on such f a c t o r s as i t s geometric pitch angle and t h e spanwise location of the root chord (i.e., t h e hub diameter).

These in-plane motions permitted by blade f l e x i b i l i t y make possible t h e unlike propeller occurrence of another class of self-excited vibrations which, whirl f l u t t e r , i s purely mechanical i n origin. This phenomenon, popularly

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called "ground resonance," has received considerable attention i n helicopter studies (e.g., refs. 1 1 and 12) and has a l s o been recognized as a potential problem on tilt-wing V/STOL configurations ( r e f . i3).

A recent study of t h e interaction between propeller whirl f l u t t e r and mechanical i n s t a b i l i t i e s on systems having flexible-twisted propellers has been I n t h i s study, as i n conducted by Richardson, McKillop, e t al. ( r e f . 14).

reference 8 f o r hinged propellers, a considerable number of parametric varia- t i o n s were analyzed theoretically and wind-tunnel t e s t s were conducted on a simple low-speed wind-tunnel model.

The mathematical and physical models considered by Richardson consisted of an axisymmetrical nacelle, and a f l e x i b l e twisted propeller having a r i g i d hub and three o r more uniform constant-chord blades. The relevant blade bending modes which can couple with whirl f l u t t e r a r e shown t o be cyclic "pitch" and cyclic "yaw" type motions i n which t h e t i p path plane i s pitched or yawed due t o blade bending. Each of these modes has associated with it an in-plane The flexible-blade mode i l l u s t r a t e d i n figure 3, component of displacement.

It i s f o r example, is t h e "pitch" mode accompanied by in-plane bending.

coning motions of the blades do not couple with the modes remarked t h a t involved i n t h e whirl i n s t a b i l i t i e s and consequently t h i s mode w a s not included i n t h e analysis.

Some p r i n c i p a l findings of the studies i n reference 14 are presented i n figures 9 and 10 of t h i s paper. Figure 9 shows the s t a b i l i t y characteristics a condition of zero damping and of one of t h e configurations analyzed f o r There is close s i m i l a r i t y without aerodynamic forces (e.g., a s i n a vacuum).

between these p l o t s and frequency diagrams f o r mechanical i n s t a b i l i t y obtained by Coleman (ref. 11). As the propeller rotational speed R increases a point

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i s reached where two of the frequencies coalesce, resulting i n two modes at t h e same frequency, one of which i s damped and t h e other unstable. This point, denoted by A i n t h e figure, marks t h e beginning of a region of mechanical i n s t a b i l i t y i n a fomard whirl rode.

Figure 1 0 shows t h e e f f e c t s of adding aerodynamic forces t o the s t a b i l i t y analyses by progressively increasing air density from zero, the value assumed i n figure 9. (Point A i n f i g . 9 lies on t h e zero density curve i n f i g . 10.)

S t a b i l i t y boundaries a r e presented i n figure 10 as p l o t s of blade frequency Boundaries against nacelle frequency f o r both forward and backward whirl modes.

f o r t h e forward mode originate from a mechanical i n s t a b i l i t y , and those f o r t h e backward mode originate from a whirl f l u t t e r i n s t a b i l i t y .

that i n t h e forward whirl mode as air density increases two regions Note of i n s t a b i l i t y develop. The region t h a t has t h e higher values of we/Q is not of p r a c t i c a l significance because the r a t e of growth of the unstable motions involved was found t o be extremely low and would be eliminated by a s m a l l amount of s t r u c t u r a l damping. The other region of i n s t a b i l i t y i n t h e but with forward w h i r l mode i s i n i t i a l l y made worse as density increases, f u r t h e r increase i n density t h e area of i n s t a b i l i t y i s reduced and eventually eliminated. It i s i n t e r e s t i n g t o note from t h i s f i g u r e t h a t t h e system encounters mechanical i n s t a b i l i t i e s only i f t h e nonrotating blade natural fre- quency, u t , , is l e s s than t h e r o t a t i o n a l frequency of t h e propeller.

With regard t o propeller whirl f l u t t e r - indicated by t h e s t a b i l i t y

boundaries f o r t h e backward mode - it appears t h a t blade f l e x i b i l i t y has rela- t i v e l y l i t t l e e f f e c t except i n a region where t h e blade frequency parameter i s near unity. The asymptotic boundaries f o r a r i g i d propeller a r e a l s o shown f o r comparison.

- 14 -

PROPELLER AERODYNAMICS A s has already been mentioned i n a previous section of t h e paper the pitching and yawing oscillations t h a t accompany propeller-nacelle whirl motions produce aerodynamic forces on the propeller which i n t u r n provide the driving W b ~ ~ - w - * o l . " . . - A m n + h d a -1 "- ---- save -- - a v a f l n h l e -. . fnr nredicting the mc:&&,i~~,,, fvi- J - - - L - L * ' ~ * - ~ l l l U U B U I I L " J .

Ribner's aerodynamic forces and moments required i n a whirl f l u t t e r analysis.

analysis of yawed propellers ( r e f . 15) has long been used i n studies of a i r - c r a f t s t a b i l i t y and i s equally useful i n propeller whirl f l u t t e r studies (see,

Houbolt's s t r i p theory analysis i n reference 4 lacks

f o r example, r e f . 3 ) .

some of the refinements of Ribner's method, but i s simpler t o apply and appears Both of these theories a r e based on the assump- t o give comparable r e s u l t s .

t i o n t h a t the inflow angle is s m a l l and the aerodynamic forces a r e "quasi- s t a t i c , " i.e., o s c i l l a t i n g wake e f f e c t s are ignored.

Measured Derivatives To evaluate t h e o r e t i c a l methods f o r predicting propeller w h i r l f l u t t e r , Bland and Bennett (ref. 6) have conducted an experimental investigation on a model which resembles t h e simple mathematical models previously studied. The wind-tunnel model consisted of a windmilling propeller mounted on an isolated Measurements of nacelle which had symmetrical s t i f f n e s s i n pitch and yaw.

s t a t i c aerodynamic propeller derivatives and whirl f l u t t e r boundaries f o r t h e same propeller system were obtained over a range of t e s t conditions. Typical r e s u l t s from t h e study a r e presented i n figure 11which shows t h e nacelle damping required t o prevent f l u t t e r plotted against a nondimensional velocity.

The calculated f l u t t e r boundaries were determined on the basis of three s e t s the theoretical derivatives derived by t h e methods of aerodynamic derivatives:

- 15 -

of references 4 and 15, and the actual derivatives as measured on the model.

Note t h a t the calculations based on measured derivatives a r e i n excellent agree- ment with t h e experimental data, whereas those based on theoretical derivatives follow the same trends but tend t o underestimate the observed f l u t t e r speed.

Unsteady Flow These differences i n t h e f l u t t e r boundaries based on t h e o r e t i c a l and meas- It has ured derivatives may i n p a r t be due t o unsteady aerodynamic e f f e c t s .

been shown (e.@;., ref. 3 ) that aerodynamic phase lags associated with t h e oscillatory wake have a stabilizing effect on the usual backward-mode whirl f l u t t e r . The theoretical derivatives used i n figure 1 1 were modified t o account f o r phase lags on t h e basis of t h e Theodorsen circulation function F + i G f o r two-dimensional a i r f o i l s . This i s a good approximation f o r very large advance ratios; however, f o r smaller advance ratios, the circulation function i s sig- nificantly a l t e r e d due t o t h e h e l i c a l pattern of the wake.

I n reference 16 Loewy derives modified F + i G function f o r a propeller

with a helical wake. These r e s u l t s indicate t h a t f o r low advance r a t i o s t h e phase lag f o r a propeller can be much l a r g e r than would be predicted by the c l a s s i c a l F + i G function f o r two-dimensional a i r f o i l s . It i s interesting t o note t h a t f o r lowest advance r a t i o s investigated by Bland and Bennett i n reference 6 (J = 1 . 3 ) t h e measured phase lag w a s 24' as compared with a theo- r e t i c a l value of 1 3 ' based on Theodorsen's function.

Thrust It has been established t h e o r e t i c a l l y t h a t propeller t h r u s t has a rela- t i v e l y insignificant e f f e c t on whirl f l u t t e r s t a b i l i t y f o r conventional r i g i d propellers under high-speed f l i g h t conditions. This f a c t greatly simplifies

- 16 -

t h e construction and t e s t i n g of wind-tunnel models i n t h a t it permits the use of windmilling rather than thrusting propellers. I n a theoretical investigation of' the e w e c t s of propeller Ynrusi UKI w l i i ~ l fLUtAer, Rz-i-era (ref. 17) 8h~;;s t h a t t h r u s t causes large deviation i n t h e propeller derivatives a t low-speed high-thrust f l i g h t states, such a s take-off. However, at higher forward speeds where whirl f l u t t e r normally occurs, the deviation be.tween aerodynamic coeffi- cients f o r thrusting and windmilling propellers i s usually l e s s than 3 percent.

Similar conclusions are found i n reference 9 on the basis of experimental coef- f i c i e n t s obtained on a thrusting propeller.

It i s pointed out i n reference 17 t h a t before drawing general conclusions regarding t h e e f f e c t s of thrust on whirl f l u t t e r , one should examine the thrust characteristic curve of t h e propeller i n question. If it i s found, f o r example, t h a t at high forward speeds t h e thrust i s small r e l a t i v e t o m a x i m u m thrust, the e f f e c t s of t h r u s t on t h e propeller coefficients may be ignored. This case, O n the which i s t y p i c a l of most propellers, is i l l u s t r a t e d i n figure 12(a).

other hand, if the propeller delivers a significant percentage of maximum t h r u s t a t high forward speeds, such as i s i l l u s t r a t e d i n figure 12(b), thrust may well have an important influence on whirl f l u t t e r .

High Inflow A n g l e s VTOL a i r c r a f t from v e r t i c a l t o horizontal I n t h e t r a n s i t i o n maneuver of

flight t h e inflow angle. - i.e., t h e angle between the t h r u s t axis and the

airstream - may be as large as 90'. A t these high inflow angles t h e propeller

aerodynamic derivatives are l i k e l y t o have values t h a t d i f f e r markedly from those corresponding t o high-speed flight conditions (see refs. 18 and 1 9 ) .

Since whirl f l u t t e r is usually considered t o be a r e l a t i v e l y high-speed f l i g h t

- 17 -

phenomenon it is of i n t e r e s t t o explore t h e possibility of encountering whirl f l u t t e r i n low-speed f l i g h t during t r a n s i t i o n . This question w a s b r i e f l y examined i n reference 9. O n t h e basis of whirl f l u t t e r calculations which u t i l i z e d experimental propeller derivatives and a simple axisymmetric nacelle, angle-of-attack e f f e c t s were found t o be stabilizing i n t h a t the s t i f f n e s s required t o prevent f l u t t e r a t high inflow angles was s l i g h t l y l e s s than t h a t at low angles. These r e s u l t s a r e summarized i n figure 13 f o r a wind- required milling and a thrusting propeller.

WING FLEXIBILITY The propeller-nacelle systems considered i n previous sections of t h e paper were assumed t o have been flexibly mounted t o a r i g i d wing or backup structure.

This simplifying assumption i s very useful, especially i n preliminary design studies, i n t h a t it permits one t o readily i s o l a t e the e f f e c t s of various basic parameters. However, dynamic coupling between t h e propeller-nacelle system and the wing on which it i s mounted can a l t e r t h e whirl f l u t t e r boundaries predicted f o r a r i g i d w i n g . In general it has been found t h a t wing aeroelastic e f f e c t s have a stabilizing influence on whirl f l u t t e r .

it can best be i l l u s t r a t e d with the This general trend and an exception t o a i d of figure 14. Stiffness boundaries of t h i s type show the combination of \ pitch and yaw nacelle s t i f f n e s s e s t h a t would be required t o avoid whirl f l u t t e r Of a system f o r a given s e t of f l i g h t conditions. When t h e nacelle s t i f f n e s s e s are greater than the minimum values indicated by these boundaries, propeller i n whirl f l u t t e r would not be encountered by the system. The curves presented figure 1 4 are based on r e s u l t s obtained by Zwaan and Bergh i n a n analog com- puter study of whirl f l u t t e r ( r e f . 20). These curves show the influence of wing f l e x i b i l i t y on w h i r l f l u t t e r f o r three cases: (a) a r i g i d wing, (b) a wing having freedom t o t r a n s l a t e vertically, and ( c ) a wing having freedom t o t r a n s l a t e and rotate about a n p l a 8 t . i ~ axis- Ir? +_he lztter t u c CQSCG, = e m - dynamic forces are assumed t o a c t on t h e wing a s w e l l as on t h e propeller.

Consider first the case of a r i g i d wing. Features of t h i s s t a b i l i t y

boundary are typical of those found i n reference 4 and discussed here i n

it i s t o be noted that the bovlndary i s extended along the figure 4(a). Again, diagonal ray S8 = E + , such t h a t the symmetrical system, indicated by point A, is t h e most c r i t i c a l from t h e standpoint of whirl f l u t t e r . The points a t which a s well as other curves i n the figure, terminate a r e the s t a t i c t h i s curve, divergence boundaries f o r t h e system.

When t h e wing has freedom t o o s c i l l a t e i n v e r t i c a l translation it can be This increased seen t h a t i t s e f f e c t on whirl f l u t t e r i s always stabilizing.

s t a b i l i t y can be a t t r i b u t e d t o aerodynamic damping forces on t h e w i n g . It i s of p a r t i c u l a r i n t e r e s t t o note t h e "necked down" portion of t h e curve where the s t a b i l i z i n g influence of t h e wing i s most pronounced. A t t h e points labeled B, t h e whirl frequency o coincides with the wing bending frequency q so t h a t whirl motions of the propeller-nacelle tend t o drive the wing a t a resonant amplitude. Thus, Zwaan and Bergh suggest t h a t the wing i n t h i s case m y be considered as a type of tuned damper which absorbs greatest energy when the system frequency is close t o the tuned frequency of t h e damper.

I n t h e t h i r d case shown i n figure 14 the wing vibration m o d e involves coupled bending and torsion motions. The frequency of the f i r s t coupled wing mode 0 1 i n t h i s case is approximately the sane as the uncoupled bending fre- discussed previously, but t h e mode shape indicates strong coupling quency % between t h e bending and t w i s t i n g motions h and a . The s t a b i l i t y boundary

- 19 -

f o r t h i s condition i l l u s t r a t e s an exception t o the generally observed trend t h a t wing f l e x i b i l i t y s t a b i l i z e s whirl f l u t t e r . It should be noted t h a t t h e m a x i m u m s t i f f n e s s required occurs i n t h e v i c i n i t y of point C where t h e So w i n g fundamental coupled frequency cu1 and t h e nacelle yaw frequency a , , , are

-

Since t h e w i n g mode involves pitching of t h e propeller, point C may t h e same.

be regarded as a coincidence of "pitch" and yaw frequencies f o r t h e f l e x i b l e as point A was f o r t h e r i g i d w i n g . I n both cases t h e region of wing j u s t i n s t a b i l i t y is extended at these points where t h e p i t c h and yaw frequencies coincide.

Thus, a general conclusion reached i n reference 20 i s t h a t a f l e x i b l e wing has a s t a b i l i z i n g e f f e c t on propeller whirl f l u t t e r except possibly i n a region where t h e uncoupled yaw frequency i s close t o a wing t o r s i o n frequency. Benefi- c i a l effects of a wing on whirl f l u t t e r have a l s o been reported i n references 21 and 22.

AEROELASTIC MODELS Simplified mathematical and physical models, such as those discussed i n t h i s paper, provide valuable aids f o r gaining insight i n t o a complex phenomenon However, as t h e and a r e useful i n guiding t h e course of preliminary design.

f i n a l design of an a i r c r a f t evolves, it i s customary t o employ more refined a n a l y t i c a l and experimental techniques t o insure t h a t the f l u t t e r margin i s The a n a l y t i c a l adequate for any f l i g h t condition within t h e f l i g h t envelope.

techniques used may involve separate consideration of whirl f l u t t e r and wing o r t h e propeller-nacelle system m y be included as additional ingredi- f l u t t e r , a n a e r o e l a s t i c s t a b i l i t y analyses of t h e complete system. Similarly, e n t s i n

- 20 -

model t e s t i n g techniques may vary i n complexity from an isolated propeller- nacelle t o an aeroelastically scaled model of t h e complete a i r c r a f t .

A specific example wherein propeller whirl f l u t t e r was a design considera- A review of t i o n from t h e outset i s provided by the X C - l 4 2 A - a VTOL a i r c r a f t .

t h e wind-tunnel investigation of aerUelastic .zt+ili+.y f o r the X C - 1 4 2 A is reported by Head and Smith i n reference 22. This investigation involved an aeroelastic model i n which each of four engine-gearbox-propeller systems was The propellers were nonpowered but were shafted together dynamically scaled.

t o insure t h a t a l l turned at the same speed. The remarkable degree of d e t a i l achieved i n t h e dynamic simulation of the engine-gearbox system i s apparent i n figure 15. The gearbox is connected t o the engine by a multiredundant strut arrangement on t h e model i n t h e same manner a s it i s on the a i r c r a f t . The f l e x i b l i t y of each strut as well as the overall f l e x i b i l i t y between the engine and t h e gear box a r e accurately scaled i n the model. The authors of refer- ence 22 stated t h a t the simulation of t h i s component represented t h e most d i f - f i c u l t design problem on the model.

A f l u t t e r design requirement f o r t h i s a i r c r a f t is t h a t no f l u t t e r s h a l l occur as a result of f a i l u r e of any single s t m c t u r ~ l element (e.g., see r e f . 7). Therefore, i n t h e model t e s t s a failure of various s t r u t members w a s The strut failure condi- simulated by simply removing t h e strut i n question.

t i o n s t h a t were actually simulated on t h e dynamic model were selected on t h e b a s i s of analysis. It i s interesting t o note t h a t i n some cases the calculated whirl f l u t t e r speed w a s increased as a result of a strut f a i l u r e .

- 21 -

CONCLUDING REMARKS This paper has attempted t o review t h e state-of-the-art of propeller whirl f l u t t e r and some recent contributions t o it. O n t h e basis sf this review t h e following observations can be made: 1. Classical propeller whirl f l u t t e r i n the backward whirl mode is amenable t o analysis providing the propeller aerodynamic coefficients and the damping of t h e engine mount are known with reasonable accuracy. I n most instances strip-theory methods appear adequate f o r determining t h e propeller aerodynamic coefficients.

2. The use of nonrigid propeller-rotors can have a s i g n i f i c a n t influence on t h e whirl s t a b i l i t y of a system. For instance, flapping blades introduce t h e p o s s i b i l i t y of f l u t t e r i n the forward mode and f l e x i b l e blades give rise t o mechanical i n s t a b i l i t i e s , however it w a s found t h a t t h e propeller aerodynamic forces which create whirl f l u t t e r tend t o mitigate mechanical i n s t a b i l i t i e s .

3 . The e f f e c t s of high inflow angles and large t h r u s t coefficients asso- ciated w i t h VTOL t r a n s i t i o n maneuvers a r e r e l a t i v e l y unimportant from t h e standpoint of whirl f l u t t e r .

4. Wing f l e x i b i l i t y generally has a s t a b i l i z i n g e f f e c t on whirl f l u t t e r except when the nacelle uncoupled yaw frequency i s close t o t h e wing t o r s i o n .

frequency Finally, it should be remarked t h a t t h e p a r t i c u l a r parameters selected f o r discussion i n t h i s paper, although representative, are not necessarily the only ones of significance with regard t o whirl f l u t t e r .

O n s p e c i f i c configurations such f a c t o r s as t h e interaction of whirl modes with thrust-control system dynamics, the operation of propeller-rotors as "pushers" which would have upstream pivot locations, o r t h e coupling between w h i r l modes and in-plane

- 22 -

wing bending modes are l i k e l y t o be important. If these f a c t o r s a r e not impor- t a n t the dynamicist concerned with propeller-rotor systems should have no d i f - f i c u l t y i n discovering some others t h a t are.

- 23 -

APPENDIX ~AI3IL;T'I'Y DETERJUNm FOR WHIRL FLUTTER O F PR0pELI;ERS WITH HINGED BLADES The equations used t o calculate s t a b i l i t y of the hinged-blade propeller model i n figures 7 and 8 a r e based on derivations by Richardson and Naylor i n The equations of motion f o r the system a r e expressed i n terms of reference 8.

four degrees of freedom: pitch and yaw of t h e propeller hub about a point aft of t h e hub, and cyclic (antisymmetric) flapping of the blades i n t h e pitch and yaw directions. When t h e system has a x i a l symmetry, as does the model under consideration, the whirl modes a r e c i r c u l a r (i.e., pitch and yaw motions are 9 0 ' out of phase and are of equal amplitude). For such conditions the equa- a s e t of four equations with r e a l coeffi- t i o n s of motion can be reduced from cients t o a set of two equations with complex coefficients.

The s t a b i l i t y determinant of t h e system i n t h e notation of reference 8 is:

IA2A + A(B + D) +

where A = p + i v is a solution (eigenvalue) of t h e equation. The sign of p

determines whether the system i s stable ( - 1 or unstable (+), and the sign of

v y = w/Q) determines t h e direction of (the nondimensional whirl frequency whirl. A positive sign represents forward whirl and a negative sign, backward whirl. The coefficients A, B, C, etc., are matrices t h a t contain the i n e r t i a , gyroscopic, and aerodynamic parameters of t h e system. For t h e axisymmetric system under consideration these matrices a r e defined a s follows:

- 24 -

c

I- 1

-FaH 3 A 1 + GH 2 A 3 FaH(A3 - EA^) - G(% - €4)

+ i( FH2A3 + GaH3Al) - i [F(9 - EA^) - GaH (A3 - CAP]

[ C ] = K -&(F + i G )

GH2(A3 - EA^)

The above matrices are of the form of those presented i n reference 8; how- l ever additional terms, not e x p l i c i t l y given i n reference 8, have been included

here t o represent unsteady aerodynamic effects (F + i G ) and viscous-type

-25 -

s t r u c t u r a l damping 5 . The parameters t h a t make up the matrix elements a r e

defined i n the l i s t of symbols and t h e numerical values of parameters used i n t h e present calculations a r e given i n t a b l e I.

- 26 -

.

REFERENCES 1 . Tayiujr, E. E., e=& B r w n e , K. A.: Vibration Isolation of Aircraft Power Plants. Jour. Aero. Sci., vol. 6, no. 2, Dec. 1938, pp. 43-49.

2. Abbott, Frank T., Jr., Kelly, H. Neale, and Hampton, Kenneth D.: Investiga- t i o n of Propeller-Power-Plant Autoprecession Bounaaries FGX- G 2 J - c ~ i c - Aeroeiastic Model of a Four-Engine Turboprop Transport Airplane. N A S A TN D-1806, 1963.

3 . Reed, Wilmer H., 111, and Bland, Samuel R.: An Analytical Treatment of NASA TN D-639, 1961.

Aircraft Propeller Precession I n s t a b i l i t y .

4. Houbolt, John C., and Reed, Wilmer H., 111: Propeller-Nacelle Whirl F l u t t e r .

Jour. Aerospace Sci., vol. 29, no. 3, Mar. 1962, pp. 333-346.

5 . Sewall, John L.: An Analytical Trend Study of Propeller Whirl I n s t a b i l i t y .

NASA TN D-996, 1962.

Wind-Tunnel Measurement of 6. Bland, Samuel R., and Bennett, Robert M . : Propeller Whirl-Flutter Speeds and Static-Stability Derivatives and Com- parison With Theory. NASA TN D-1807, 1963.

7. U.S. C i v i l A i r Regulations 4b.308 Amendment 4b-16, e f f e c t i v e October 5 , 1964.

Whirl F l u t t e r of Fropellers !:Tith 8. Richardson, J. R., and Naylor, H. F. W.: Hinged Blades. Report No. 24, Engineering Research Associates, Toronto, Canada, March 1962.

9. Reed, Wilmer H., 111, and Bennett, Robert M.: Propeller Whirl F l u t t e r Con- siderations f o r V/STOL Aircraft. Cal/Trecom Symposium Proceedings,

vol. I11 - Dynamic Load Problems Associated With Helicopters and V/STOL

Aircraft, June 1963.

.- 27 -

10. Gallardo, V. C., and Flannelly, W i l l i a m : Propeller-Nacelle Whirl F l u t t e r Analysis of K - 1 6 ~ Amphibious VTOL/STOL Aircraft. Rept . No. G-113-41, Kaman Aircraft Corp., AM. 1962.

11. Coleman, Robert P . , a d Feirsold, Arnoid M.: Theory of Self-Excited Mechanical Oscillations of Helicopter Rotors With Hinged B l a d e s . NACA TR 1351, 1958.

12. Brooks, George W.: The Mechanical I n s t a b i l i t y and Forced Response of Rotors on Multiple-Degree-of-Freedom Supports. PhD Thesis, Princeton University, October 1961.

13. Loewy, Robert G ., and Yntema, Robert T. : Some Aeroelastic Problems of

Tilt-Wing VTOL Aircraft. Journal of the American Helicopter Society, 3, no. 1, Jan. 1958.

vol.

14. Richardson, J. R., McKillop, J. A., Naylor, H. F. W., and Blandler, P. A.: Rept. No. 43, Whirl F l u t t e r of Propellers With Flexible Twisted Blades.

1963.

Engineering Research Associates, Toronto, Canada, Dec.

15. Ribner, Herbert S . : Propellers i n Yaw. NACA Rep. 820, 1945. (Supersedes NACA ARR 3L09.)

16. Loewy, Robert G.: A Two-Dimensional Approximation t o t h e Unsteady Aero- dynamics of Rotary W i n g s . Jour. Aeronautical Sci., vol. 24, no. 2, Feb. 1957, pp. 81-92.

17. Ravera, Robert J.: Effects of Steady State B l a d e Angle of Attack on Propeller Whirl F l u t t e r . Rep. No. ADR 06-01-63.1, Grumman Aircraft Eng.

Corp., July 1963.

18. De Young, J. : Propeller a t High Incidence. AIAA Jour. of Aircraft, vel. 2 , no. 3, May-June 1965, pp. 241-249.

- 28 -

19. Shenhman, Albert M.: Generalized Performance of Conventional Propellers Hamilton Standard Rept. No. HS-1829, March 1958.

f o r VTOL-STOL Aircraft.

20. Zwaan, R. J., and Bergh, H.: Restricted Report, ~ . 2 2 8 , N a t . Aero- Astronautical Research Inst., N.L.R., Amsterdam, Feb. 1962.

21. Bennett, Robert M., urd El&, Cy~~~2e.1 E?=! Eqerimental and Analytical Investigation of Propeller Whirl Flutter of a Power Plant on a Flexible Wing. NASA. TN D-2399, 1964.

Dynamic Model Testing of t h e XC-142A 22. Head, A. L., and Smith, W. D.: Aircraft. Proceeding of Symposium on Aeroelastic and Dynamic Modeling Technology, RTD-TDR-63-4197, Part I, March 1964.

TABLE I . - SYSTEM PARAMETERS USED I N CALCULATIONS O F FLAPPING-BLADE MODEL FLUTTER BOUNDARIES (SEX F I G S . 5 AND 8) a , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.25

c, ( a t 3 / 4 R ) , f t . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.0835

c 2 , per rad. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2J(

U eS, slug-ft 2 4

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.0495 x 1 0 '

* F + i G . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.67- i 0.18

J . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.10 I, slug-ft2 -4

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.310 x 10

11, slug-ft 2 4

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 . 3 8 1 6 ~ i o -

12, slug-ft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.2386 x

13, slug-ft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.2090 x 10-4

N . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

R , f t . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.70

E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.137

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.04

v o . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Varied

*

The F + iG functions employed here combine aspect r a t i o and phase lag

corrections.

The phase lag i s based on experimental data.

- 30 -

a , rl rl a ,

0 " /

x x H H

z

r: e , rl

I +

rl a , PI k 0 3 PI

%

v,

m a

+

+

H H ..

I ..

* 3 I -

i i 9

- /

al PI k PI rd

> \

d

> \

bo d k l - a :

-

n

a :

a

a :

e

a : OL

a . I

cu

I

a .

FRONT SIDE

a -

@ RIGID BLADES

0 HINGED BLADES

ri

0 FLEXIBLE-TWISTED

BLADES

NASA Figure 3 . - Propeller-rotor systems considered.

I k a, d rl aj PI k Y n pc W

%

' 3 01

\a, ffi l- v, 0, a , k a, k a , L in a , a , W W

\

\

\

\

P

\

LT d

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Source & rights

Source: ntrs.nasa.gov. Public-domain U.S. Government work (17 USC §105) — freely reproducible.

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Document details

Doc number
·
19660012890
Publisher
·
NASA
Year
·
1965
Pages
·
46
File size
·
6.1 MB