Innovative Approaches to Propellers Off-Design Performance Modeling

Abstract

This article provides an overview on the challenges related to the prediction of propellers performance at preliminary design stage, ranging from numerical stability to simplicity required for being integrated into engine cycle models. After a description of the usual approach to propeller performance based on maps, and a discussion on its limitations, innovative methods are proposed, lying on the identification of losses trends combined with the use of propeller characteristic operating points over the whole usable area. These innovative approaches significantly reduce the number of required simulations or test cell points to be able to describe the full propeller range of operation, adding physics to the mathematical approach usually considered for turbomachinery component maps elaboration. Accuracy and stability of the considered approaches are discussed, along with an assessment of the required effort to set them up.