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Toy Airplane

Aerodynamic Analysis of Propeller Design

Student researchers at Mississippi State University designed a test setup and procedure to analyze different aerodynamic properties of propellers and how they change with respect to differences in diameter and pitch. The test stand was designed using 3-D modeling in SolidWorks and manufactured in the Patterson Engineering Lab to be used in the wind tunnel for testing. The seven propellers being tested range from 16 to 22 inches in diameter and from 8 to 12 inches in pitch. Using the wind tunnel, motor, and electronic speed controller, the propellors were subjected to rpms from 0 to 4590 at wind speeds from 0 to 36 meters per second. LabVIEW was utilized to gather data output from the wind tunnel and load cell. Using this data, the students developed a MATLAB code to interpret the data and graph the relationships between aerodynamic properties such as thrust, torque, efficiency, and advanced ratio. After validating the results using past experiments, conclusions were drawn on how propeller pitch and diameter affect the aerodynamic performance of a propeller.

There is currently high demand for data on the aerodynamics of propellers due to the increased use of unmanned aircraft systems. This project focuses on the aerodynamics of propellers between 16 and 22 inches with an 8-14 degree angle of attack. To collect this data, wind tunnel testing will be conducted for each propeller. The analysis and resultant experimental data will be utilized in furthering an understanding of each varied parameter’s effect on propeller aerodynamics. 

Motivation

Project at a Glance
(click picture for description)

Wind Tunnel Testing
MSU Wind Tunnel
Propellers
Hacker Motor
Completed Test Stand
sideangle propsetup.png

Test Stand CAD Model

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