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The Fan Propeller and Blade Interference

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 September 2016

Extract

For some time it has been recognised that the aerodynamical theory of the screw propeller, as at present presented, leaves considerable room for improvement. The leading specialists in this branch of aerodynamics, such as Mr. Fage, Mr. McKinnon-Wood and Dr. Watts, have given recognition to the all-important fact that a velocity of inflow can only, be produced by the mutual interfering action of the propeller blades upon each other. Dr. H. C. Watts was, I believe, the first person to point this out clearly, and to show that the hitherto accepted theories of inflow rested upon a highly empirical basis. By “ velocity of inflow ” is meant the additional velocity required to modify the method of propeller analysis, known as the blade element theory, originally enunciated by S. Drzewiecki in 1892. The accepted and standard inflow theory of the airscrew, as, for example, given in Professor L. Bairstow's “ Applied Aerodynamics,” rests upon the empirical assumption that the ratio (velocity of inflow)/(velocity of impressed slip) is a constant for all propellers and for all radii along the propeller blade length.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Aeronautical Society 1922

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References

Note on page 64 * It will be seen later that this is not strictly necessary.

Note on page 67 † This is the important deduction.

Note on page 72 * Strictly this should read “ q and σδ, etc.”

Note on page 74 * This assumption is not required for the theory generally. It is used only in evaluating θ in the last part of the Paper.

Note on page 78 * Or slightly greater. It is here assumed that this figure is approximately equal to the normal inflow speed component.

Note on page 79 * “ The Helicopter Flying Machine,” Aircraft Engineering.