General aviation propeller-airframe integration simulations

The interference flowfields of propellers when installed on general aviation aircraft is investigated. The interaction is known to be a significant source of cabin noise and is likely an efficiency loss mechanism due to standard blade designs not completely accounting for installation interference. The aerodynamic model used in the simulations incorporates state-of-the-art unsteady three-dimensional Navier-Stokes; solutions through the use of a high-resolution approximate Riemann solver utilizing the Baldwin-Lomax turbulence model. The software used for simulation purposes is a derivative of a software package developed for NASA John. H. Glenn Research Center at Lewis Field. Several configurational arrangements were studied and compared to one another. The propellers tested include a standard general aviation propeller and a modern propeller design. Both are mounted on various fuselage configurations including geometries involving engine cooling inlets and short and long spinners to adjust propeller/cowl spacing. A detailed examination of flowfield properties provides insight into the interaction between the propeller and the cowl immediately downstream.