Free-Vortex Filament Methods for the Analysis of Helicopter Rotor Wakes

Abstract

The theoretical basis and the numerical implementation of free-vortex filament methods are reviewed for application to the prediction and analysis of helicopter rotor wakes. The governing equations for the problem are described, with a discussion of finite difference approximations to these equations and various numerical solution techniques. Both relaxation and time-marching wake solution techniques are reviewed. It is emphasized how the careful consideration of stability and convergence (grid-independent behavior) are important to ensure a physically correct wake solution. The implementation of viscous diffusion and filament straining effects are also discussed. The need for boundary condition corrections to compensate for the inevitable wake truncation are described. Algorithms to accelerate the wake solution using velocity field interpolation are shown to reduce computational costs without a loss of accuracy. Several challenging examples of the application of free-vortex filament methods to helicopter rotor problems are shown, including multirotor configurations, flight near the ground, maneuvering flight conditions, and descending flight through the vortex ring state