Mechancial engineering consulting services provided by af-insight:
Aircraft propeller design:
Features:
- Determine the optimum aerodynamic blade shape via vortex theory
Differentiators:
- Includes a stall model, allowing for performance predictions from takeoff to cruise
- Includes the affect of blade sweep, this opens the door to ultra high bypass (UHB) applications, known by
many names, such as propfans, unducted fans (UDF), open rotors, and open fans
- Not limited by reliance on the Betz condition
- Predicts performance in the subsonic, transonic, and supersonic regime
- With the exception of airfoil characteristics, the code consists of a purely analytical formulation. The code is a
lifting line formulation that iterates upon the circulation and induced angle of attack. The code makes use of
the Biot-Savart law and Kutta condition. The code is written in Fortan, utilizes one x86 core, and runs
extremely fast. Even using a dated laptop with a dual-core AMD processor; one design point can be
calculated in less than a second, an entire performance map can be calculated in less than four minutes.
Limitations:
- For a number of reasons, af-insight does not design counter-rotating propellers
Note:
- This service provides the first step in the design of an aircraft propeller. Finite element analysis and vibration
certification are also needed to ensure the best aerodynamic design is also a safe design. Multiple iterations
are sometimes needed to avoid vibration excitation. af-insight's FEA consulting services are a good choice
for fixed pitch applications, even though vibration certification would still be needed. The propeller
manufacturer should normally be relied upon for vibration certification. Even if you plan on mounting the
propeller to a hovercraft, airboat, or experimental category aircraft; af-insight still strongly recommends having
a vibration certification done, for your own safety and the safety of others. Failure due to vibration excitation is
more common than you might think, and has deadly consequences.
Finite element analysis (FEA) consulting services:
Features:
- Analysis of parts or assemblies with linear contact
- Deformed model export
- Deformed and undeformed model inertial properties
- Linear static analysis with large displacement
- Linear steady state heat transfer analysis
- Prestressed modal analysis with stress stiffening and spin softening
- Thermal stress and deflection analysis
Differentiators:
- Campbell diagram creation; helps avoid resonance in rotating structures
- Soderberg diagram creation; helps avoid fatigue failure
- Use of linear and angular acceleration to model coriolis and gyroscopic loads; aids design of inertial sensors
Limitations:
- For a number of reasons, af-insight does not model anisotropic or orthotropic materials
Note:
- Problems solved in-core with a direct sparse solver; for fast, efficient, and accurate results
Features:
- Determine the optimum aerodynamic blade shape via vortex theory
Differentiators:
- Includes a stall model, allowing for performance predictions from takeoff to cruise
- Includes the affect of blade sweep, this opens the door to ultra high bypass (UHB) applications, known by
many names, such as propfans, unducted fans (UDF), open rotors, and open fans
- Not limited by reliance on the Betz condition
- Predicts performance in the subsonic, transonic, and supersonic regime
- With the exception of airfoil characteristics, the code consists of a purely analytical formulation. The code is a
lifting line formulation that iterates upon the circulation and induced angle of attack. The code makes use of
the Biot-Savart law and Kutta condition. The code is written in Fortan, utilizes one x86 core, and runs
extremely fast. Even using a dated laptop with a dual-core AMD processor; one design point can be
calculated in less than a second, an entire performance map can be calculated in less than four minutes.
Limitations:
- For a number of reasons, af-insight does not design counter-rotating propellers
Note:
- This service provides the first step in the design of an aircraft propeller. Finite element analysis and vibration
certification are also needed to ensure the best aerodynamic design is also a safe design. Multiple iterations
are sometimes needed to avoid vibration excitation. af-insight's FEA consulting services are a good choice
for fixed pitch applications, even though vibration certification would still be needed. The propeller
manufacturer should normally be relied upon for vibration certification. Even if you plan on mounting the
propeller to a hovercraft, airboat, or experimental category aircraft; af-insight still strongly recommends having
a vibration certification done, for your own safety and the safety of others. Failure due to vibration excitation is
more common than you might think, and has deadly consequences.
Finite element analysis (FEA) consulting services:
Features:
- Analysis of parts or assemblies with linear contact
- Deformed model export
- Deformed and undeformed model inertial properties
- Linear static analysis with large displacement
- Linear steady state heat transfer analysis
- Prestressed modal analysis with stress stiffening and spin softening
- Thermal stress and deflection analysis
Differentiators:
- Campbell diagram creation; helps avoid resonance in rotating structures
- Soderberg diagram creation; helps avoid fatigue failure
- Use of linear and angular acceleration to model coriolis and gyroscopic loads; aids design of inertial sensors
Limitations:
- For a number of reasons, af-insight does not model anisotropic or orthotropic materials
Note:
- Problems solved in-core with a direct sparse solver; for fast, efficient, and accurate results