A higher-order, free-wake method applied to the problem of hovering rotors

In this paper, the results of a correlation study using a new higher-order, free-wake method, applied to the problem of hovering rotors, are presented. The predictions of the free-wake method are compared with the experimental data from three different studies focusing on sectional force distributions, aggregate performance parameters such as figures of merit and downwash distributions. The correlations provide a good amount of confidence as to the ability of the new free-wake method in predicting the challenging aerodynamics of a helicopter rotor in hover.