Experimental Investigation on Aerodynamic Performance of a Contra-rotor System

Abstract The unique environment of Mars (low pressure, low density, and low temperature) causes rotorcraft to face a common situation: the low Reynolds number - high Mach number aerodynamics. The current study focuses on the aerodynamic performance of a series rotor blades under low-pressure and -density testing condition. Firstly, the optimization of two-dimensional airfoils is carried out and its use as a basic configuration to design four sets of three-dimensional rotors. Secondly, the components of the experimental force measuring system are introduced. An experimental study of the APC 9*6E propeller in its hovering mode was undertaken as part of an effort to understand the acquisition accuracy of the force balance system. The experimental error is within 5 %, which proves that the accuracy of the force measuring platform meets the experimental requirements. Finally, rotors in single- and contra-rotating configurations are all tested. and the results are analyzed. The numerical simulations are also taken at the design conditions for the purposes of results comparison.