Computational Fluid Dynamic Analysis of a Three Dimensional Laser Scanned Propeller Using CFX

Abstract

Conventional techniques used for measuring propellers geometric parameters are either destructive or in accurate or even time consuming. The outer surface of a two-Bladed wooden propeller of a powered Para-Parachute was scanned using a three dimensional laser scanner. A cloud of points has resulted out of the scanning process. Sections were taken in the cloud of points to draw the airfoil profiles at certain radii stations of the propeller, and then they were used to build a CAD model using CFX blade generator.Before manufacturing a prototype a computational fluid dynamic analysis has been performed using CFX blade Gen+ in order to validate the measured data, the analysis of the inflow and outflow properties were used to calculate the thrust of the propeller showing results that satisfies the propeller available data. A prototype has been manufactured depending on the geometrical data obtained by laser scanning and a flight test has been performed where the propeller succeeded to generate the thrust required by the Powered Propeller to take off with its payload.