High-Fidelity CFD Validation and Assessment of Ducted Propellers for Aircraft Propulsion

This paper presents validation and assessment of ducted propellers for aircraft propulsion. Numerical methods simulation strategies are put forward, including steady/unsteady high-fidelity computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations simpler momentum-based methods. The comparisons the made using a propeller proposed by NASA. Simulations also performed analyzed at extended advance ratios, blade pitch setting, cross-wind angles. Comparisons with open counterparts. shows superior performance over its unducted counterpart in hover low ratios. major thrust gain is identified from combination duct leading-edge suction higher pressure diffuser exit. off-loaded due to inflow velocities. shown have less intrusive wake features axial speeds. However, as ratio increases, contribution becomes negative deficient, growing high-pressure areas leading edge. At cross-wind, CFD offer accurate aerodynamic loads predictions despite complex flow features. surface separation found be delayed suction, while shielded duct, thereby suffering unbalanced Decomposition induced velocities each part carried out presented. A large, nonlinear extra induction component, mutual interactions propeller, observed favorable augmentation.