helicrafter rotor using cfd

2. Abstract
• In the work helicrafter rotor is designed with help
of solidworks and ANSYS.
• The rotor is designed based on the real time
condition with reverse engineering approach.
• The CFD analysis is performed. The drag, lift and
dynamic pressure is calculated.
• Structural analysis is performed with help of
dynamic pressure from CFD.
• The different material are analyzed to find the
optimum material.

3. Introduction
• Helicopters, with their versatility and capability for vertical
takeoff and landing, come in various sizes and shapes tailored
to specific tasks and payload requirements.
• Despite their diversity, most helicopters share common
components, with the rotor system standing out as one of the
most crucial. The rotor's primary function is to generate lift
for the helicopter and its payload while also mitigating drag
during forward flight.

4. Helicrafter rotor
• The helicrafter rotor consists of multiple blades
attached to a central hub. These blades are
carefully engineered to efficiently capture and
manipulate airflow, enabling lift generation and
precise control over the aircraft's movement.
• The rotor's primary function is to generate lift by
creating a pressure differential between the
upper and lower surfaces of the blades. This lift
force enables the helicrafter to overcome gravity
and achieve flight, offering exceptional
maneuverability and operational flexibility.

5. Aerodynamic forces
• Lift: Lift is the force generated perpendicular to
the direction of airflow. It primarily arises from
pressure differences between the upper and
lower surfaces of the rotor blades. Higher
pressure on the lower surface and lower pressure
on the upper surface result in lift, enabling the
helicrafter to overcome gravity and achieve flight.
• Drag: Drag is the resistance force acting opposite
to the direction of motion. It's caused by the
interaction between the rotor blades and the
surrounding air.

6. CFD
• CFD is a powerful computational tool used to
analyze and predict fluid flow behaviors in
complex systems.
• CFD involves dividing the fluid domain into
discrete cells and solving governing equations
numerically. These equations describe the
conservation of mass, momentum, and
energy, allowing for the simulation of fluid
flow and heat transfer phenomena.

7. Aim and objectives
• The Aim of the project is to design a helicrafter rotor that embodies
superior strength and exceptional aerodynamic performance.
• Objectives
• Creating the 3D model of the helicrafter rotor involves utilizing CAD
• Performing Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis on the
wind involves simulating the airflow around the helicrafter rotor
using specialized software like ANSYS Fluent.
• Conducting a coupled field analysis involves integrating structural
finite element analysis (FEA) with CFD results to assess the
structural deformation of the rotor under aerodynamic loads.
• Analyzing materials for the optimum material of the rotor blade
involves evaluating various material properties, such as strength,
stiffness.

8. Solidworks
• SolidWorks is a leading 3D CAD (Computer-
Aided Design) software used for mechanical
design, simulation, and product development.
• SolidWorks offers a comprehensive set of
tools for creating 3D models of mechanical
parts and assemblies. Users can sketch,
extrude, revolve, and loft features to generate
complex geometries with ease.

9. helicrafter rotor in solidworks.

10. Methodology
• Geometry Preparation: Create a detailed 3D model of the rotor geometry, including blades,
hub, and surrounding components, using CAD software like SolidWorks.
• Mesh Generation: Divide the rotor geometry into small computational cells using meshing
software. Ensure appropriate mesh refinement near critical areas such as blade tips and
leading edges for accurate simulation results.
• Boundary Conditions: Define boundary conditions including inlet velocity, rotational speed,
and environmental conditions such as air density and temperature.
• Turbulence Modeling: Select a suitable turbulence model to capture turbulent flow
phenomena around the rotor blades.
• Solver Configuration: Set up the CFD solver with appropriate settings for solving the
governing equations of fluid flow, such as the Navier-Stokes equations. Choose numerical
schemes and convergence criteria for stable and accurate simulations.
• Simulation Run: Execute the CFD simulation to compute the flow field around the rotor.
Monitor convergence and assess solution quality during the simulation run.
• Post-processing: Analyze simulation results to visualize flow characteristics such as velocity
distribution, pressure contours, and streamlines. Evaluate aerodynamic performance metrics
such as lift, drag, and efficiency.

11. Domain of the Geometry Meshing
boundary conditions.

12. Aerodynamic pressure on the rotor. Stream line distribution around rotor.

13. Finite element methods
• The Finite Element Method is a versatile
numerical technique widely used in
engineering for analyzing and solving complex
structural, mechanical, and thermal problems.
It provides valuable insights into the behavior
of structures under various loading conditions,
aiding in the design, optimization, and
validation of engineering systems.

14. Ansys software
• ANSYS offers a comprehensive suite of
simulation tools for multiphysics analysis,
including structural mechanics, fluid
dynamics, electromagnetics, and thermal
analysis. Users can simulate complex
interactions between different physical
phenomena within a single environment.

15. Pressure imported into structural analysis. deformation
stresses on Rotor strain on rotor

16. Results and discussion
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
1.2
1.4
1.6
1.8
AL 7039 AL 6061 AL 7075
Deformation
in
mm
Materials

17. Results and discussion
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
AL 7039 AL 6061 AL 7075
Stress
on
rotor
in
M.Pa
Materials

18. Results and discussion
0.004
0.0041
0.0042
0.0043
0.0044
0.0045
0.0046
0.0047
0.0048
0.0049
AL 7039 AL 6061 AL 7075
Strain
Materials

19. Conclusion
• Modeling Phase: Utilize SolidWorks for helicrafter rotor modeling,
leveraging its robust CAD capabilities.
• Import to ANSYS CFD: Transfer the meticulously crafted rotor
model from SolidWorks to ANSYS CFD for fluid flow analysis.
• Aerodynamic Analysis: ANSYS CFD simulates fluid flow and
aerodynamic forces on rotor blades at 350 RPM, crucial for
performance evaluation.
• Structural Analysis: Conduct structural analysis in ANSYS,
considering hydrodynamic pressure and gravity loads.
• Material Selection: Evaluate rotor blade materials (AL7075, AL6061,
AL7039) based on deformation, stress, and strain criteria.
• Optimization: AL6061 emerges as the preferred material, offering
superior performance characteristics.

20. References
• 1. Leishman, J. Gordon. "Principles of Helicopter Aerodynamics."
Cambridge Aerospace Series, 18. Cambridge: Cambridge University
Press, 2006. ISBN 978-0-521-85860-1. pp. 7-9. Web extract.
• 2. Gustave de Pontond'Amécourt. "Taking Flight: Inventing the
Aerial Age, from Antiquity through First World War." Oxford
University Press, 8 May 2003. pp. 22–23. ISBN 978-0-19-516035-2.
• 3. Joseph Needham (1965). "Science and Civilisation in China:
Physics and Physical Technology, Mechanical Engineering Volume 4,
Part 2." Pages 583-587.
• 4. Anderson, John D. "Inventing Flight: The Wright Brothers & Their
Predecessors." JHU Press, 2004. p. 35. ISBN 978-0-8018-6875-7.
• 5. Savine, Alexandre. "Tsagi 1-EA." ctrl-c.liu.se, 24 March 1997.
Retrieved 12 December 2010.