17.1 Fundamentals Flashcards
What is a propeller?
A device, consisting of a rotating hub with two or more rotating blades; used to propel an aircraft
What must all propellers do?
It must absorb the power produced by the engine and transmit the power to the airflow passing through the propeller disk.
What is a blade?
Aerofoil section attached to the hub
What is the blade root/shank?
The thickened portion of the blade nearest to the hub
What is the blade station?
A distance measured from the centre of rotation, normally measured in inches or centimetres
What is the master reference section?
A distance measured from the centre of rotation where all measurements are taken from. Normally 75% from the centre of rotation on a fixed pitch propeller and can be 50% to 75% on a variable pitch propeller.
What is the hub?
The central portion of the propeller which carries the blades
What is the dome assembly?
It encases the pitch change mechanism
What is the face?
The flat thrust producing side of a propeller blade.
What is the back?
The curved side of the propeller blade facing the direction of flight.
What is the blade angle?
The angle between the blade chord line and the plane of rotation
What is the plane of rotation?
The plane in which the propeller rotates. This is 90° to the engine centreline.
What is the pitch?
The distance advanced in one complete revolution.
What is the pitch change mechanism?
The device to alter propeller blade angle
What is Hi pitch?
(Coarse pitch) Large blade angle
What is Lo pitch?
(Fine pitch) Small blade angle
What is a tractor propeller?
A propeller mounted on the front of the leading edge of the wing or on the nose of the aircraft
What is a pusher propeller?
A propeller mounted on the trailing edge of the wing or at the rear of the fuselage.
What is reverse pitch?
Turning the propeller blades to a negative angle to produce a braking or reversing thrust
What is the spinner?
An aerodynamic fairing which covers the centre of the propeller
Where are all measurements for a blade taken from?
The centre of rotation
On what principle does a propeller work?
The reaction principle
What does a propeller convert engine torque into?
Thrust
A propeller accelerates a large mass airflow…
Slowly rearwards
What speed range is a propeller most efficient?
A propeller has a high propulsion efficiency at low to medium airspeeds (Mach 0.5 - 0.6)
How is the blade angle denoted?
Angle “β” (beta)
How is the Angle of Attack denoted?
Angle “α” (Alpha)
What is the equation for blade angle?
Blade angle = helix angle + angle of attack
What is the angle of attack?
The angle between the profile chord and the relative airflow towards it
What is RAF?
Relative air flow
How is the angle of Advance or Helix Angle denoted?
Angle “Ф” (Phi)
What is the helix angle?
The angle between the rotational plane of the blade and the RAF.
What happens to the helix angle (angle of advance) with increasing air speeds?
It increases
What are the advantages of a adjustable pitch propeller?
- Higher airspeeds can be achieved with the same engine power
- Good climb performance
- Towing
What is the disadvantage of a fixed pitch propeller?
It is only efficient with a given aircraft speed range
What is the sum of the propeller brake moment and engine torque at a constant rotational speed?
Zero
How can the angle of pitch be influenced at a constant rotational speed?
- changes in airspeed
- blade angle