The optimum loading for rotors has previously been found for hover, climb and wind turbine conditions; but, up to now, no one has determined the optimum rotor loading in descent. This could be an important design cons...The optimum loading for rotors has previously been found for hover, climb and wind turbine conditions; but, up to now, no one has determined the optimum rotor loading in descent. This could be an important design consideration for rotary-wing parachutes and low-speed des- cents. In this paper, the optimal loading for a powered rotor in descent is found from momentum theory based on a variational principle. This loading is compared with the optimal loading for a rotor in hover or climb and with the Betz rotor loading （which is optimum for a lightly-loaded rotor）. Wake contraction for each of the various loadings is also presented.展开更多
基金sponsored by the GT/WU Rotorcraft Center of Excellence Program,Dr.Mahendra Bhagwat,technical monitor
文摘The optimum loading for rotors has previously been found for hover, climb and wind turbine conditions; but, up to now, no one has determined the optimum rotor loading in descent. This could be an important design consideration for rotary-wing parachutes and low-speed des- cents. In this paper, the optimal loading for a powered rotor in descent is found from momentum theory based on a variational principle. This loading is compared with the optimal loading for a rotor in hover or climb and with the Betz rotor loading （which is optimum for a lightly-loaded rotor）. Wake contraction for each of the various loadings is also presented.
