Low Speed Thrust Characteristics of a Modified Sonic Arc Airfoil Rotor through Spin Test Measurement
Jang-Chang Lee
International Journal of Aeronautical and Space Sicences, vol. 13, no. 3, pp.317-322, 2012
Abstract : The low speed aerodynamic characteristics for modified sonic arc airfoil which is designed by using the nose shape function
of sonic arc, the shape function of NACA four-digit wing sections, and Maple are experimentally investigated. The small rotor
blades of modified sonic arc and NACA0012 airfoil are accurately fabricated with a commercially available light aluminum(Al
6061-T6) and are spin tested over the low speed range (3000rpm-5000rpm). In the consuming power comparison, the consuming
powers of NACA0012 are higher than that of modified sonic arc at each pitch angle. The measured rotor thrust for each pitch
angle is used to estimate the rotor thrust coefficient according to momentum theory in the hover state. The value of thrust
coefficient for both two airfoils at each pitch angle shows almost constant over the low Mach number range. However, the rotor
thrust coefficient of NACA0012 is higher than that of modified sonic arc at each pitch angle. In conclusion, the aerodynamic
performance of NACA0012 is better than that of modified sonic arc in the low speed regime. This test model will provides a
convenient platform for improving aerodynamic performance of small scale airfoils and for performing design optimization
studies.
Keyword : Airfoil Design, TSD(transonic small disturbance ), Sonic Arc Airfoil, Thrust |