the aerodynamics of helicopter rotors can be quite complex and challenging to simulate accurately. Blade vortex interactions, in particular, can cause significant fluctuations in the lift and drag forces on the rotor blades, which can lead to vibration and noise.
To simulate the aerodynamics of helicopter rotors, we typically use computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software such as Star-CCM+ or ANSYS Fluent. These software packages allow us to create a digital model of the rotor and the surrounding air, and simulate the fluid flow over the rotor blades as they rotate.
To model the blade vortex interactions, we use a technique called unsteady simulation, which takes into account the time-varying flow around the blades as they rotate. We also incorporate the effects of turbulence in the air, which can have a significant impact on the accuracy of the simulation.
The output of the simulation includes data on the lift and drag forces acting on the rotor blades, as well as the flow velocity and pressure distributions around the blades. This information can be used to optimize the design of the rotor blades for better performance and reduced noise. It can also be used to investigate the effects of different flight conditions, such as the interaction between the main and tail rotors or the tail shake phenomenon, and to develop strategies for mitigating these effects.
