Propeller Effects on R/C model Plane

tipu_2365 · September 10, 2010, 12:28

I am desigining a 6ft span R/C airplane required to carry a 2 kg payload with 25 mins loiter. Now i want to estimate its lift through CFD, since I can't any good maths for predicting Low Reynold Number lift.

can any any body tell me that how will i simulate the propeller effects on my R/c plane. The data i have is the prop diameter, RPM adn Power. Which B.C should i use and how to model that condition in my geometery!

I am Using Gambit 2.4 and Fluent 6.3!

mettler · September 10, 2010, 15:46

wouldn't you want to make sure that at the specified RPM of the motor your prop blades are generating enough lift to pull the plane forward at the required speed necessary for the plane's wings to develop enough lift to make the airplane fly with the required load?

If that is the case, and I had to do it in Fluent, I would do a study of the lift generated by flow over the prop blade and find the necessary velocity to get the lift I needed. Unless I missed something, that is what I would do.

tipu_2365 · September 10, 2010, 16:18

Actually i want to see that if my design is flown at a specific speed then how much lift will it generate ... and then if the propeller effects are added then how much will be the difference (I am assuming that my prop and rpm are generating enough thrust to fly at that specific speed)

mettler · September 10, 2010, 16:36

do you have a cross-section of your wing? That would be the easiest way to do it. If it is a standard wing you can probably find a lot of data already dealing with that specific wing. You can also check your pitch etc.

What do you mean by 'propeller effects'?

tipu_2365 · September 11, 2010, 01:21

At certain Angle of Attacks the prop wash tends to decrease the effective AoA just like downwash. So I want to estimate that effect on my plane!

September 10, 2010, 12:28	Propeller Effects on R/C model Plane	#1
tipu_2365 New Member Waqas Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 3 Rep Power: 16	I am desigining a 6ft span R/C airplane required to carry a 2 kg payload with 25 mins loiter. Now i want to estimate its lift through CFD, since I can't any good maths for predicting Low Reynold Number lift. can any any body tell me that how will i simulate the propeller effects on my R/c plane. The data i have is the prop diameter, RPM adn Power. Which B.C should i use and how to model that condition in my geometery! I am Using Gambit 2.4 and Fluent 6.3!

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Use of k-epsilon and k-omega Models	Jade M	Main CFD Forum	40	January 27, 2023 08:18
Superlinear speedup in OpenFOAM 13	msrinath80	OpenFOAM Running, Solving & CFD	18	March 3, 2015 06:36
Propeller Fan Curve Simulation	Teng_YJ	FLUENT	2	February 16, 2009 20:37
azimuthal angle in plane orifice atomizer model	sina	FLUENT	0	September 23, 2008 02:23
Radiation effects in model	Ken	Siemens	8	August 7, 2003 15:28

September 10, 2010, 15:46		#2
mettler Senior Member Andrew Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 211 Rep Power: 18	wouldn't you want to make sure that at the specified RPM of the motor your prop blades are generating enough lift to pull the plane forward at the required speed necessary for the plane's wings to develop enough lift to make the airplane fly with the required load? If that is the case, and I had to do it in Fluent, I would do a study of the lift generated by flow over the prop blade and find the necessary velocity to get the lift I needed. Unless I missed something, that is what I would do.

September 10, 2010, 16:18		#3
tipu_2365 New Member Waqas Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 3 Rep Power: 16	Actually i want to see that if my design is flown at a specific speed then how much lift will it generate ... and then if the propeller effects are added then how much will be the difference (I am assuming that my prop and rpm are generating enough thrust to fly at that specific speed)

September 10, 2010, 16:36		#4
mettler Senior Member Andrew Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 211 Rep Power: 18	do you have a cross-section of your wing? That would be the easiest way to do it. If it is a standard wing you can probably find a lot of data already dealing with that specific wing. You can also check your pitch etc. What do you mean by 'propeller effects'?

September 11, 2010, 01:21		#5
tipu_2365 New Member Waqas Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 3 Rep Power: 16	At certain Angle of Attacks the prop wash tends to decrease the effective AoA just like downwash. So I want to estimate that effect on my plane!