THE AERONAUTICAL JOURNAL DECEMBER 2008 VOLUME 112 NO 1138 689

Comparison between blade-element models

of propellers
O. Gur and A. Rosen
Technion Israel Institute of Technology
Haifa, Israel

ABSTRACT
Blade-element models are the most common models for the analysis lB co-ordinate along the blade cross-sectional quarter chord
of propeller aerodynamics, performance calculations and propeller points
design. In spite of their simplicity these models are very efficient L lift per unit length
and accurate. Blade-element models use the local induced velocities M Mach number
as an input thus they should be combined with another model in n propeller’s angular speed (revolutions per second)
order to calculate these induced velocities. Various models are used Nb number of blades
for the calculation of the induced velocity, where the most popular p pressure at the far wake
ones include: momentum, simplified-momentum, lifting-line p pressure jump across the actuator disk
(prescribed and free wake), and vortex (McCormick and p1, p2 pressure of the flow entering and exiting the actuator
Theodorsen) models. The paper describes the various models, disk, respectively
compares their results and discusses the advantages and disadvan- pa ambient pressure
tages of each one. The results indicate that the Blade- Pz wake helical pitch
element/simplified-momentum model offers very good accuracy dQ torque of disk annulus
together with high efficiency. For propeller performance calculations r radial co-ordinate at the disk plane
during steady axial flight, where most of the cross-sections do not r radial co-ordinate at the far wake
experience stall, detailed and complicated models for calculating the Re Reynolds number
induced velocities do not show advantages over the simple blade- dT thrust of disk annulus
element/simplified-momentum model, xB, yB, zB, blade’s cross-sectional co-ordinates
Va–BE, Vt–BE axial and circumferential incoming cross-sectional veloc-
ities, respectively
VBE resultant cross-sectional velocity
NOMENCLATURE VF vehicle’s flight velocity
c chord w displacement velocity
Cl, Cd 2D lift and drag coefficients wa, wt, wr axial, circumferential, and radial induced velocity
~ components, at the disk plane
Cl corrected two dimensional lift
CT, CP thrust and power coefficients, respectively wa, wt axial and circumferential induced velocity components in
D propeller diameter the far wake
D drag per unit length of the blade wa–BE, wt–BE axial and circumferential induced velocity components at
J advance ratio the cross-section
K Theodorsen’s circulation function wa–Wake axial induced velocity in the wake

Paper No. 3277. Manuscript received 17 January 2008, revised 5 August 2008, second revision 26 August 2008, accepted 11 September 2008.
690 THE AERONAUTICAL JOURNAL DECEMBER 2008

Y Theodorsen’s contraction factor

 angle-of-attack
 pitch angle
0.75 pitch angle at 75% of blade radius
B, T circulation of the bound and trailing vortex filaments,
respectively
 bound circulation for infinite number of blades
 inflow angle
 Goldstein’s coefficient of interference velocity
 advance ratio of the far wake
a air density
 solidity
 propeller’s angular speed

Figure 1. Cross-section of a blade-element of a

1.0 INTRODUCTION propeller having straight blades, at axial flight.
The aerodynamic analysis of rotary wings (propellers, rotors, and
wind turbines) has been developed during the last hundred years.
CFD codes present the most comprehensive methods of analyzing
rotary wings. These codes have many advantages, like their ability to The cross-sectional components of the induced velocity which are
analyze planform effects or capture compressibility and viscosity calculated by one of the above mentioned methods become an input
effects. CFD analyses are used to investigate complex phenomena to the blade-element model. By using the blade-element model, the
such as blades that experience stall along large portions(1) or aerodynamic loads along the blade are calculated. Usually an
propeller-fuselage interaction(2). Initially the use of CFD methods to iterative process is required in order to obtain convergence.
investigate propeller aerodynamics was limited because of the large Integration of the aerodynamic loads along the blades results in the
computer resources that were required(3-4). Due to developments of propeller's thrust and required power.
hardware and codes, nowadays a propeller in axial flight can be Many researchers have used the various above mentioned models
resolved, using full RANS simulation, within hours of CPU time on and reported their results. Yet, the authors are not aware of any
a modern personal computer, Yet, this is too expensive and time publication where the various models have been compared. The
consuming for many applications such as design optimisation or real purpose of the paper is to present such a comparison that can help
time simulation. any user to decide which model to use based on his/her needs.
Veteran blade-element models are commonly used for the aerody-
namic analysis of rotary wings, including propellers. The Wright
brothers were probably the first to use a crude blade-element model 2.0 THE BLADE-ELEMENT MODEL
in order to design a propeller for their Wright-flyer. The proper
design of their propeller was probably one of the main reasons for Usually blade-element models are developed for a propeller in axial
their success in accomplishing the first flight of a heavier than air flight (the axis of rotation is parallel to the free stream direction),
vehicle(5). Drzewiecki(6) was probably the first to introduce a modern that has straight blades. The blades are divided into small elements
blade-element model. Since then blade-element models are in the radial direction. It is assumed that each element behaves as a
commonly used for the analysis and design of propellers(7). two dimensional wing. Another assumption is the absence of inter-
The main advantages of the various blade-element models are action between neighbour elements. The validity of this assumption
their simplicity, accuracy and low demand of computer resources. has been shown by Lock and Bateman(15) and others.
Blade-element models are especially suitable for design processes or Figure 1 shows a cross-section of a blade-element. xB is the
simulations involving a large number of calculations that require spanwise co-ordinate, which in the case of straight blades is identical
high accuracy as well as numerical efficiency. to the radial co-ordinate, r. yB is a co-ordinate perpendicular to the
Blade-element models are based on dividing each propeller’s radial co-ordinate and parallel to the plane of rotation.
blade into small elements (segments). It is assumed that each The cross-sectional velocity components are shown in Fig. 1:
element behaves aerodynamically as a wing in a two-dimensional
flow. The element lift and drag coefficients are functions of: the (a) The free stream velocity, VF
local angle-of-attack, Mach number, and Reynolds number. These (b) Rotational velocity, .r.  is the angular speed of the propeller.
parameters are functions of the cross-sectional resultant velocity,
which is obtained by summing up all the following contributions: the (c) Cross-sectional induced velocity. The induced velocity is
air-vehicle flight velocity, rotation of the blade, and induced described by its two cross-sectional components: the axial
velocity. While the flight velocity and rotational velocity are known, component, wa–BE, and the circumferential one, wt–BE.
the induced velocity components are unknown. To find these
unknowns, another model should be used together with the blade- While the first two components are functions of the flight conditions
element-model. Over the years various models have been used for (flight velocity and the propeller’s angular speed), the induced
that purpose, including: momentum models(8), lifting-line models(9), velocity components are unknown. In order to find these unknowns,
and vortex models(10,11). These models allow the calculation of the another model should be coupled with the blade-element model, as it
induced velocity by using different approaches. will be described in the following sections.
The momentum model, uses an actuator disk(12) approach where the If all the components of the cross-sectional velocity are known,
flow field is divided into concentric annuli control volumes. The lifting- the resultant cross-sectional velocity, VBE, can be calculated. The
line is a somewhat more complex model which is based on Prandtl’s direction of this cross-sectional velocity defines the inflow angle, .
lifting-line theory(13) and includes different approaches to calculating the The angle-of-attack, , is obtained by subtracting the inflow angle,
wake geometry(9,14). Vortex models (represented here by Theodorsen’s , from the local pitch angle, . The cross-sectional resultant
and McCormick’s models) are based on the optimal distribution of the velocity also defines the cross-sectional Mach number (M) and
blade’s circulation and the Kutta-Joukowski theorem. Reynolds number (Re).
GUR AND ROSEN COMPARISON BETWEEN BLADE-ELEMENT MODELS OF PROPELLERS 691

attack, Mach, and Reynolds numbers). Even if such a data base

exists, there are additional effects that should be considered, such as
the influence of rotation on the nature of cross-sectional stall(18),
unsteady and installation effects.
For most operating conditions of propellers, especially those
where the cross-sections do not experience stall, blade-element
models give good results. Furthermore, using a two-dimensional
data base also has its advantages. The two dimensional aerodynamic
data base can take into account (at least partially) viscosity effects
(through Reynolds number influences) and compressibility effects
(through Mach number influences).
The lift and drag per unit length of the element, that are calculated
by Equations (1)-(2), are used to calculate the contribution of these
elements to the propeller’s thrust, dT, and torque, dQ:

. . . (6)

. . . (7)

Nb is the number of blades.

As mentioned above, Fig. 1 and the above equations describe the
case of axial flight of a propeller that has straight blades. The
equations can easily be extended to include the case of swept
blades(19), while the following points need special attention:
Figure 2. Blade-element tip correction factor.
(a) The velocity components should be projected in a proper
manner onto the cross-sectional plane that, in general, is not
normal to the local radius. For example, in the case of straight
The cross-sectional lift and drag coefficients, Cl(, M, Re) and blades the cross-sectional circumferential velocity equals
Cd(, M, Re), respectively, are obtained by using a two dimensional .r – wt–BE, while in the case of swept blades, it also includes a
aerodynamic data base. The lift and drag forces per unit length, L contribution of the radial component of the induced velocity.
and D, respectively, are: When the cross-sectional resultant velocity is known, L and D
are calculated by using Equations (1)-(2).
. . . (1) (b) The contributions of each blade-element to the thrust and torque
(dT and dQ, respectively) are calculated using an appropriate
transformation of the cross-sectional lift and drag forces to the
direction of the propeller axis. Equations (6)-(7) should be
. . . (2) corrected accordingly.

 is the air density, while c is the chord of the blade-element.

~ The blade-blement model is relatively simple and can easily be
C l(r, , M, Re) is the corrected two dimensional lift coefficient of
the blade-element, which include the influence of the blade tip: implemented, depending on the availability of an appropriate two
dimensional aerodynamic data base. As indicated above, the main
. . . (3) differences between the various blade-element implementations are
the methods of calculating the induced velocity. The most common
It is clear that at the propeller tip (last few percents of length) the methods are described in the following sections.
aerodynamic behaviour is a three dimensional one, where the lift
drops to zero at the tip itself(16) Ftip(r/R) is a correction factor that
accounts for these tip effects. 3.0 MOMENTUM MODEL
The simplest correction is to reduce the effective length of the
blade(17): According to the momentum model, the propeller is replaced by an
actuator disk(12) of radius R. The disk has zero thickness and
momentum (axial and circumferential) is inserted into the flow that
crosses it. According to the momentum model the disk is divided
. . . (4)
into concentric annuli. The stream lines that pass through the
boundary of each annulus, define a set of concentric annular control
volumes. Figure 3 shows the pressures and velocity components
In the present case a ‘smooth’ correction is introduced as shown in along a representative control volume. Due to the momentum
Fig. 2. Both corrections give: inserted into the flow, a pressure jump, p, is created across the disk.
p is the difference between the pressure right after the flow exits
. . . (5) the disk, p2, and the pressure just before the flow enters it, p1.
Integration of p over the disk results in the total thrust. pa is the
The main difficulty while using blade-element models is the need for ambient pressure, while p is the far wake pressure.
a reliable two dimensional aerodynamic data base. This data base The induced velocity through the disk is described by its three
should cover all of the combinations of flow conditions experienced components: axial, radial, and circumferential — wa, wr, wt, respec-
by the blades’ cross-sections (different combinations of: angles-of- tively. The induced velocity in the far wake includes two compo-
 692 THE AERONAUTICAL JOURNAL DECEMBER 2008

Equations (9)-(15) are seven equations for the following seven

unknowns:

(a) Axial and circumferential induced velocity components at the

disk plane, wa (r) and wt(r).
(b) Axial and circumferential induced velocity components in the
far wake, wa[r(r)] and wt[r(r)].
(c) The pressure jump across the disk, p(r), and the pressure in
the far wake, p [r(r)].
(d) The radial co-ordinate of the stream line r, in the far wake —
r(r).
Figure 3. Pressure and velocity components along
an annular control volume of an actuator disk. It should be noted that the radial induced velocity at the disk plane,
wr(r), does not take part in the general-momentum model. In the case
of straight blades this component has no influence on the blade-
element’s cross-sectional velocities, thus it does not play a roll in the
analysis. It can be assumed that the influence of the radial
nents: axial and circumferential, wa and wt, respectively. The radius component of the induced velocity can also be neglected in the case
of the control volume in the far wake is r and is a function of the of small sweep angles. For higher sweep angles, it is possible to use
radius of the same control volume while it crosses the disk: other models(20) in order to calculate the radial induced velocity,
wr(r), and take into account the influence of its projection onto the
r = r(r) . . . (8) blade cross-section, on the blade-element aerodynamic behaviour.
Equations (9)-(15) include two additional unknowns: the thrust
According to the momentum model the interaction between neigh- and torque which are applied on the flow that passes through the
bouring control volumes is assumed to be negligible. Based on this disk’s annulus — dT(r) and dQ(r), respectively. These unknowns are
assumption and neglecting viscosity effects, the general-momentum obtained from Equations (6-7) of the blade-element model.
equations are obtained(8): The combined solution of the blade-element/general-momentum
model starts by assuming an initial induced velocity distribution
along the blade. Then the thrust and torque distributions along the
(a) Conservation of angular momentum in the wake: blades are calculated by using the blade-blement model — Equations
(6)-(7). This is followed by calculating the induced velocity using
. . . (9) the general-momentum model — Equations (9)-(15) . This scheme is
repeated iteratively until convergence. The process converges
(b) Thrust equation — the relation between the pressure jump rapidly and requires relatively small computer resources.
across the disk and the contribution of the annulus to the total The general-momentum model can be further simplified by
thrust: adopting the following assumptions:

. . . (10) (a) The pressure in the far wake, p [r(r)], is approximately equal
to the ambient pressure, pa:
(c) Equilibrium of forces in the radial direction, in the far wake:
. . . (16)

. . . (11) (b) The circumferential induced velocity in the far wake is similar
to the circumferential induced velocity just after the flow
crosses the disk. This approximation leads to the following
(d) Combining Bernoulli equations for a streamline before it enters equation:
the disk and in the wake:
. . . (17)
. . . (12)
After introducing these assumptions into Equations (9)-(15), the
(e) Conservation of axial momentum: system of seven equations is reduced into a system of only two
equations, as follows:
. . . (18)
. . . (13)

. . . (19)
(f) Conservation of mass along the control volume:
The above approximations also lead to the following well known
relation:
. . . (14)
. . . (20)
(g) Conservation of angular momentum — the torque which is
applied on the flow through an annulus r, by the actuator disk, In many cases Equations (18)-(19) are referred to as ‘the momentum
is equal to the change in the angular momentum of the flow model’, in the present paper they will be denoted the simplified-
crossing that annulus: momentum model.
One of the assumptions behind an actuator disk model includes an
. . . (15) ‘averaging’ of the phenomenon at any point of the disk. This
GUR AND ROSEN COMPARISON BETWEEN BLADE-ELEMENT MODELS OF PROPELLERS 693

Figure 4. Comparison between the results of momentum models and test results of a two bladed propeller in axial flight (Propeller II of Ref. 22).

averaging is equivalent to ‘smearing’ the phenomenon, namely circumferential induced velocity equals wt. Thus the value of the
assuming that the disk consists of an infinite number of blades. To circumferential induced velocity which is seen by each blade-
correct for this assumption, Goldstein’s coefficient of interference element, wt–BE (Fig. 1), is somewhere between zero and wt.
velocity, (r), is used(21). (r) is a function of the number of blades, In most cases the average is used:
Nb, radial co-ordinate, r, and the local inflow angle, (r). It is defined
as the ratio between the cross-sectional circulation of a single blade . . . (24)
in the case of a finite number of blades, B(r), and the total circu-
lation at that radial co-ordinate, in the case of an infinite number of
blades, B(r): Another approach was suggested by McCormick(11) who introduced a
correction to the cross-sectional angle-of-attack, expressing the
circumferential induced velocity variation through the disk.
. . . (21) In Fig. 4 the results of the two above described models (general-
momentum and simplified-momentum) are compared with test
results of a two bladed propeller (propeller II of Ref. 22). This figure
This effect is introduced into the momentum model by multiplying shows the thrust and power coefficients, CT and CP, respectively, as
the various induced velocity components by (r). Thus the equations functions of the propeller advance ratio, J. These parameters are
of the simplified-momentum model, Equations (18-19), become: defined as follows:
. . . (22)
. . . (25)

. . . (23)
. . . (26)
In the same manner (r) is also introduced into the general-
momentum model — Equations (9)-(15).
The circumferential induced velocity before the fluid enters the . . . (27)
disk plane is equal to zero. After the flow exits the disk plane the
694 THE AERONAUTICAL JOURNAL DECEMBER 2008

Figure 5. Comparison between the results of momentum models and test results of a
propeller having two swept blades, in axial flight (Propeller I of Ref. 22).

T and P are the resultant propeller’s thrust and required power,

respectively. n is the propeller rotational speed (in revolutions per
second) and D is the propeller’s diameter. Figure 4 includes results
for various pitch angle settings, 0.75.
According to Fig. 4 the agreement between the calculations and
the test results is very good for high advance ratios at each pitch
setting. At lower advance ratios, the agreement deteriorates. As
mentioned above, at low advance ratio large portions of the blade
experience stall and the blade-element model, which is based on two
dimensional aerodynamic data, fails to predict the complicated three
dimensional stall behavior of these cross-sections(18).
Figure 4 exhibits negligible differences between the results of the
general-momentum model and the simplified-momentum model.
The computer resources which are needed for the simplified-
momentum model are smaller by an order of magnitude compared to
the general-momentum model.
In order to further investigate the differences between the general- Figure 6. The lifting-line model.
momentum and simplified-momentum models, a propeller having
swept blades is considered. This propeller is identical to propeller I
of Ref. 22. In Fig. 5 the test results are compared with calculations,
for several pitch angles, 0.75. Again, there are negligible differences 4.0 LIFTING-LINE MODEL
between the general and simplified-momentum models, while both
The lifting-line model for fixed wings was developed by Prandtl(13,23)
models exhibit good agreement with the experimental results. and is still commonly used for various aerodynamic analyses(24).
Based on the above results, and other comparisons with tests that According to this model, high aspect ratio wings can be repre-
have not been presented here, it can be concluded that for propeller sented by a vortex filament which is bound along the wing's quarter
performance calculations the simplified-momentum model gives chord line (the bound vortex). This bound vortex filament is known
good results, exhibiting negligible differences in comparison with as the lifting-line. Due to variations of the circulation along the
results of the general-momentum model. blade, trailing vortices are created and form the wake.
GUR AND ROSEN COMPARISON BETWEEN BLADE-ELEMENT MODELS OF PROPELLERS 695

Figure 7. Comparison between the results of lifting-line models and test results of a two bladed propeller in axial flight (Propeller III of Ref. 22).

The lifting-line model was extended by Betz(25) for rotary wings Instead of finding the free wake geometry as discussed above, it is
(Fig. 6). By using a lifting-line model Betz defined the conditions for possible to adopt simplifying assumptions that define the entire wake
a maximum efficiency propeller. He used a variational approach and geometry based on certain parameters. These models are known as
after adopting a few assumptions he showed that the vortex sheets in prescribed wake models. In the case of propellers it is common to
the wake of an optimal propeller move axially backwards as rigid assume that each vortex filament in the wake has a helical geometry
screw surfaces. This result was later used by others, like Goldstein(26) with a constant radius and pitch. The radius is equal to the radial
who obtained an expression for the velocity induced by such a wake location of the origin of the trailing vortex filament at the disk plane.
in the case of lightly loaded propellers, or Theodorsen(10) who Regarding the pitch, pZ(r) , two common approaches are used:
extended Goldstein’s work to include the case of heavily loaded
propellers. (a) The induced velocity is neglected compared to the flight
The magnitude of the bound circulation, B, is a function of the velocity, VF, and the tangential blades’ velocity, .r . Thus the
radial co-ordinate r. The circulation magnitude of the trailing vortex wake’s pitch becomes:
filaments per unit spanwise length, T, is calculated based on the law
of conservation of circulation: . . . (29)

According to this model the wake geometry is defined a priori

. . . (28) and it does not change throughout the entire iterative solution
process. This model is denoted a (fully) prescribed wake model.
lB is the co-ordinate along the blade’s quarter chord.
If the trajectories of the trailing vortices are known, namely the (b) The influence of the axial component of the induced velocity on
wake geometry is known, one can calculate the induced velocity at the helical pitch is taken into account. Thus the helix pitch is
any point of the flow field. given by the following expression:
The direction of the trailing vortices at any point of the field
coincides with the direction of the local resultant velocity(14), thus the
. . . (30)
trailing vortices are free of forces. The free wake model is based on
this condition. This model is quite complicated and requires
relatively large computer resources. By using this method the actual wa–Wake(r) is the axial induced velocity in the wake. The
geometry of the wake is calculated. Such a calculation is especially magnitude of this velocity lies between the disk axial induced
important for static conditions(27), where the wake geometry is fairly velocity, wa(r), and the far wake velocity, wa[r(r)]. According
complicated, showing a significant contraction. to numerical investigations, the differences between the results
696 THE AERONAUTICAL JOURNAL DECEMBER 2008

Figure 8. Comparison between the results of lifting-line models and test results
of a propeller having two swept blades, in axial flight (Propeller I of Ref. 22).

while using these two values are very small. (a) A prescribed wake model
Since the induced velocity (including its axial component) is a (b) A semi-prescribed wake model
function of the wake geometry, an iterative solution procedure (c) A free wake model
is required. Thus this method is denoted a semi-prescribed
wake model.
The differences between the three lifting-line models are negligible
and the agreement with the experimental results is good in general,
It is clear that the prescribed wake model is simpler and more except for swept blades at high pitch angles (possible reasons for
efficient than the semi-prescribed wake model. This model can that are discussed in Section 6).
become even more efficient by using semi-analytical methods to For lifting-line models, as in the two versions of the momentum
calculate the velocities induced by helical vortex filaments(28). model (general and simplified), the small differences between the
Nevertheless, in certain cases it is necessary to use free wake or the various lifting-line models do not justify the use of the more
semi-prescribed wake models in order to obtain good results. For complex ones, namely the free or semi-prescribed wake models, for
example, during static operation of propellers or for hovering rotors, the analysis of propellers at typical operating conditions.
a free wake model should be used since the free stream velocity is
equal to zero. However investigation of the static thrust case was
beyond the scope of the present work.
After the wake geometry has been defined by using one of the 5.0 VORTEX MODELS
above described models, it is necessary to combine the lifting-line Vortex models represent another method of calculating the induced
with the blade-element model. The induced velocity along the bound velocities along the blades. Here Theodorsen’s(10) and
vortex is calculated by using the Biot-Savart law. In certain cases McCormick’s(11) models will be discussed. These two models are
more complex models, rather than the simple Biot-Savart, are used, similar and are based on the same assumptions. Originally they were
including modeling of the vortex core(29). The induced velocities that developed for straight blades in axial flight, but they can be extended
are calculated using these methods, are projected onto the blade- to include moderately swept blades(19).
element cross-section. According to Betz the vortex sheets in the wake of an optimal
Figures 7 and 8 present comparisons between the results of lifting- propeller move axially backward as rigid screw surfaces. In this
line models and test results of a propeller with straight blades case(10,11,21,30) the resultant velocity of the vortex sheets is normal to
(propeller III of Ref. 22) and a propeller with swept blades (propeller the vortex surfaces, namely the resultant induced velocity in the far
I of Ref. 22). Results of three lifting-line models are shown: wake is normal to the resultant velocity there. Theodorsen(10) and
GUR AND ROSEN COMPARISON BETWEEN BLADE-ELEMENT MODELS OF PROPELLERS 697

wake, thus  is approximately equal to the tangent of the inflow

angle at the disk plane, :

. . . (35)

Goldstein’s derivation dealt with lightly loaded propellers where the

displacement velocity has a negligible influence on the inflow angle
in the disk plane and in the far wake.
According to Theodorsen’s model, the displacement velocity is
calculated by using geometrical relations (Fig. 9) between the inflow
angle, axial and circumferential induced velocities:

Figure 9. Cross-sectional velocities of the vortex model. . . . (36)

. . . (37)
later McCormick(11) went further and assumed that at the disk plane
the cross-sectional resultant induced velocity is also perpendicular to
the resultant velocity (Fig. 9) . . . (38)
It is now convenient to define the displacement velocity in the far
wake, w, It was shown previously, based on the momentum model
and certain assumptions, that the magnitude of the induced velocity
in the disk plane is half its magnitude in the far wake — Equations 5.2 McCormick’s model
(20) and (24). Therefore at the disk plane the magnitude of the
displacement velocity is assumed to be half its value in the far wake. McCormick’s model is similar to Theodorsen’s model and includes
Knowing the displacement velocity (and from it the inflow angle, ) the following expression for the circumferential induced velocity,
allows the calculation of the axial and circumferential components of wt–BE (r)(11):
the induced velocity.
. . . (39)
5.1 Theodorsen’s model
Theodorsen’s model is based on the earlier work of Goldstein(26). The By using Fig. 9 the following geometrical relation for the axial
main results of Theodorsen appear in the following expression for induced velocity is obtained:
the displacement velocity, w .
. . . (40)
. . . (31)
It is possible to obtain the aerodynamic loads along the blade by
(r) is the local solidity: using Equations (39) and (40), together with the blade-element
model.

. . . (32)
6.0 COMPARISON BETWEEN THE
Equation (31) presents a relation between the blade aerodynamic DIFFERENT MODELS
loading (the distribution of the lift coefficient) that is obtained from
the blade-element model, and the displacement velocity. The origin In the previous sections a few of the common blade-element based
of this expression is the Kutta-Joukowski theorem that relates models of propellers were described: momentum models, lifting-line
between the magnitude of the local circulation and the local lift models, and vortex models. As for the momentum and lifting-line
force. models, their main versions were presented and the results showed
K is Theodorsen’s circulation function which is a function of: the that for propellers in axial flight the differences between the various
number of blades, Nb, radial location of the blade-element, r/R, and versions are negligible. Thus the simplified-momentum model and
the advance ratio in the far wake,  (the tangent of the pitch angle in lifting-line with prescribed wake, which are simpler and require
the far wake). smaller computer resources, will be considered in what follows.
 is calculated by using the wake contraction coefficient, Y: Figures 10-12 present comparisons between the four models and
test results(22,32) of three propellers with straight blades in axial flight.
Figure 13 presents the efficiency, , of the propeller presented in
. . . (33) Fig. 12. Figure 14 shows a similar comparison for the propeller with
swept blades(22). It should be noted that the propeller of Ref. 32
Tabulated values for Y are given in the literature(31). reaches higher advance ratios and thus it increases the range of
There is a relation between K and Goldstein’s coefficient of inter- comparisons.
ference velocity, , which is given by the following equation(21): In all the cases the results of McCormick’s model give the lowest
values. Theodorsen's model over predicts the values, in comparison
with the test results, and agrees with the much more complicated
. . . (34) lifting-line model. The momentum model lies in between these models.
As the pitch angle increases, the differences between the results of
For lightly loaded propellers the pitch angle is constant along the the various models increase. This is due to the increase of the thrust
698 THE AERONAUTICAL JOURNAL DECEMBER 2008

Figure 10. Comparison between the various models and test results of a two bladed propeller in axial flight (Propeller II of Ref. 22).

Figure 11. Comparison between the various models and test results of a two bladed propeller in axial flight (Propeller III of Ref. 22).
GUR AND ROSEN COMPARISON BETWEEN BLADE-ELEMENT MODELS OF PROPELLERS 699

Figure 12. Comparison between the various models and test results of a four bladed propeller in axial flight (Ref. 32).

and power that result in an increase of the induced velocities and (c) normalised axial induced velocity, wa / R
consequently an increase of their influence on the results. In a
(d) normalised circumferential induced velocity, wt / R
similar manner, at low flight velocities the thrust and power increase
and again the induced velocities become more important. Thus, as (e) angle-of-attack, 
the advance ratio decreases the differences between the results of
various models increase. As expected, at advance ratio J = 1.2 the thrust and power coeffi-
Propeller’s efficiency is defined as follows: cients are higher than at J = 1.7. The differences between the
maximal values of the thrust and power distributions in Figs 15 and
. . . (41) 16 agree with the differences between the total thrust and power
coefficient as presented in the previous comparisons: Theodorsen’s
and the lifting-line models give the higher values, McCormick’s
According to Fig. 13 McCormick’s model under predicts the test
model gives lower values, while the simplified momentum model
results, the lifting-line and Theodorsen’s models over predicts them,
lies in between. All the distributions exhibit the same behaviour
while the momentum model falls in between.
For swept blades (Fig. 14), as the pitch angle and advance ratio In contrary to the results presented in Figs 15 and 16
increase, most of the models over predict the test results. The elastic (Theodorsen’s and lifting-line models give similar results, while
torsion of the swept blades, as a result of the increased torsional McCormick’s results are significantly different, and the momentum
moment due to sweep, result in a smaller effective pitch angle in the results are in between), in Fig. 17 except for the results of
test, which may be the reason, at least partially, for the over McCormick’s model, all the other models give very close results.
prediction of the theoretical results. The only model that exhibits a The circumferential induced velocity, which is presented in Fig. 18,
fair agreement with the test results, at high advance ratios, is shows different trends: while the results of Theodorsen’s and lifting-
McCormick’s model that exhibits under prediction in the case of line models are similar, McCormick's model give much higher
straight blades. values while those of the momentum model are even higher.
A more detailed comparison between the different models is The angle-of-attack is shown in Fig. 19. The trends here agree
presented in Figs 15-19. For propeller II of Ref. 22, at two different very nicely with the trends in Figs 15 and 16. Thus the results for
advance ratios (J = 1.2 and J = 1.7), the distributions along the blade Figs 15-19 indicate that, in contrast to other rotary wings (for
of the following parameters are presented: example helicopter rotors), the influence of the circumferential
induced velocity on the blade-element calculations is not negligible
(a) thrust coefficient, dCT/d(r/R) and it cannot be neglected compared to the circumferential velocity
(b) power coefficient, dCp/d(r/R) due to rotation, .r.
700 THE AERONAUTICAL JOURNAL DECEMBER 2008

Figure 13. Comparison between the various models and test results of a two bladed propeller in axial flight (Ref. 32).

Figure 14. Comparison between the various models and test results of a
propeller having two swept blades, in axial flight (Propeller I of Ref. 22).

7.0 CONCLUSIONS For forward flight of propellers, the differences between the results of
these two models are negligible. Three lifting-line models that differ in
A few of the most common blade-element based models were investi- their wake geometry modeling were investigated: prescribed, semi-
gated: momentum models, lifting-line models, and vortex models prescribed, and free wake models. Similar to the to momentum models,
(McCormick and Theodorsen). In the case of momentum models, the the differences between the results of these three models are negligible
general-momentum and simplified-momentum models were discussed. for the case of a propeller in forward flight.
GUR AND ROSEN COMPARISON BETWEEN BLADE-ELEMENT MODELS OF PROPELLERS 701

Figure 15. Comparison between the various models of the thrust coefficient distribution of a two bladed propeller in axial flight (Propeller II of Ref. 22).

Figure 16. Comparison between the various models of the power coefficient distribution of a two bladed propeller in axial flight (Propeller II of Ref. 22).
702 THE AERONAUTICAL JOURNAL DECEMBER 2008

Figure 17. Comparison between the various models of the axial induced velocity
distribution of a two bladed propeller in axial flight (Propeller II of Ref. 22).

Figure 18. Comparison between the various models of the circumferential induced
velocity distribution of a two bladed propeller in axial flight (Propeller II of Ref. 22).
GUR AND ROSEN COMPARISON BETWEEN BLADE-ELEMENT MODELS OF PROPELLERS 703

Figure 19. Comparison between the various models of the angle of attack distribution of a two bladed propeller in axial flight (Propeller II of Ref. 22).

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