Main Content

Aerodynamic Propeller

Propeller that generates thrust from rotational motion

Since R2022b

Libraries:
Simscape / Driveline / Engines & Motors

Description

The Aerodynamic Propeller block represents a propeller that converts a rotational mechanical motion into thrust for aerodynamic applications. You can parameterize the propeller by using constants, polynomials, or tabulated data to characterize the thrust and power or coefficients. You can provide tabulated advance velocity data, tabulated advance angle data, or tabulated airfoil lift and drag coefficient data. When you model inertia, the default block parameters represent a 10 kg, two-blade propeller with a 1.5 m diameter.

You can use a physical signal to control the blade pitch.

This terminology is helpful for understanding the block:

  • Advance velocity is the speed of the flow through the propeller, Va.

  • Advance ratio is the speed of the flow through the propeller with respect to the propeller tip angular speed expressed as a ratio. The block uses this to determine kT and kP when you set Parameterization to Polynomial fit or Tabulated data for advance ratio.

  • Advance angle is the angular location of the propeller operational conditions on a four quadrant plot. The block uses this to determine CT and CQ when you set Parameterization to Tabulated data for advance ratio.

  • Quadrant is the relative two-dimensional location of the propeller operating condition where the vertical axis is Va and the horizontal axis is ω.

  • Pitch angle is the angle between the plane of the blade rotation and the chord line of the blade.

The block equations refer to these quantities:

  • T is the propeller thrust.

  • Q is the propeller torque.

  • ρ is the fluid density. You can specify the fluid density using the Density parameter or the Rho port.

  • θ is the pitch angle.

  • D is the Propeller diameter parameter.

  • ω is the propeller angular speed input at port R. For more information about using angular units in Simscape™, see Angular Units.

  • n is the propeller angular speed in revolutions per second, which consistently nondimensionalizes the power and thrust. The block defines ω = 2πn.

  • nThr is the Rotational speed threshold parameter.

  • ε is the Propeller direction parameter.

  • kT is the thrust coefficient with respect to the propeller rotational speed.

  • kP is the power coefficient with respect to the propeller rotational speed.

  • pkT is the polynomial thrust coefficient vector or 2-D matrix.

  • pkP is the polynomial power coefficient vector or 2-D matrix.

  • CT is the thrust coefficient with respect to the relative advance velocity.

  • CQ is the torque coefficient with respect to the relative advance velocity.

  • kThr is the Saturation threshold for nondimensional coefficients parameter.

  • J is the advance ratio.

  • Va is the advance velocity. Specify the advance velocity using the Va port.

  • VR is the relative advance velocity at a blade section at 70% of the blade radius.

  • η is the efficiency.

  • C*T is the thrust coefficient based on the blade relative advance velocity at 70% blade radius.

  • C*T,TLU is the reference thrust coefficient vector or 2-D matrix.

  • C*Q is the torque coefficient based on the blade relative advance velocity at 70% blade radius.

  • C*Q,TLU is the reference torque coefficient vector or 2-D matrix.

  • β is the advance angle.

  • βTLU is the reference advance angle.

Parameterizations

The propeller performance depends on the thrust and power coefficients. The Parameterization parameter gives you different options to control these coefficients. The propeller output depends on the quadrant where the propeller operates. The block defines the four quadrants as:

  • First quadrant: +Va, +n

  • Second quadrant: +Va, -n

  • Third quadrant: -Va, -n

  • Fourth quadrant: -Va, +n

The figure shows a visual representation of the quadrants.

Four-quadrant diagram, where ahead velocity is the positive y-axis, and ahead rotation is the positive x-axis.

When you set Parameterization to Constant coefficients, you specify the thrust and power coefficients directly. Otherwise, the block computes these coefficients depending on the Parameterization setting.

Advance Ratio

When you set Parameterization to Polynomial fit or Tabulated data for advance ratio, the block uses the advance ratio, J. The block uses a numerically smoothed version of the fundamental thrust and power equations such that

T=kTρD4εnn2+nthr2Q=kPρD52πnn2+nthr2

The block defines the advance ratio as

J=VaεnD(n2+nThr2),

where the angular speed threshold nThr linearizes the propeller rotational speed, n, for smoothing.

When you set Parameterization to:

  • Polynomial fitkT and kP vary with time according to the values you specify for the polynomial coefficient parameters. The block saturates J to be between 0 and the first positive root of the polynomial and restricts kT and kP to always be positive. The block calculates the thrust and power coefficients as

    kT=j=1:NNpkT,jJjkP=j=1:NNpkP,jJj

    where pkT and pkP represent the polynomial coefficients.

  • Tabulated data for advance ratio — You specify tabulated values for kT and kP for given values of J or J and θ, depending on the Blade pitch type parameter.

When Efficiency sensor is on, the block calculates the efficiency as

η=PoweroutPowerin=TVA2πnQ=J2+kThr2kTkP2+kThr2

Advance Angle

When you set Parameterization to Tabulated data for advance angle, the block uses thrust and power coefficients with respect to relative advance angle. The block defines the advance angle as

β=arctan(Va0.7πεnD),

where β is cyclic. You must ensure that the coefficient extrapolation and cycle wrapping occur as expected. The block defines the thrust and power coefficients for relative advance velocity as

CT*=T18ρVR2πD2CQ*=Q18ρVR2πD3

where VR is the relative advance velocity at a blade section at 70% of the blade radius, such that

VR2=VA2+(0.7Dπεn)2.

Rearranging the coefficient equations yields the block equations for thrust and torque with respect to relative advance velocity:

T=CT*18ρVR2D2Q=CQ*18ρVR2D3

When you set Blade pitch to:

  • Constant, the block calculates the thrust and power coefficients as

    CT*=tablelookup(βTLU,CT,TLU*,β,interpolation = interp_method,extrapolation = extrap_method)CQ*=tablelookup(βTLU,CQ,TLU*,β,interpolation = interp_method,extrapolation = extrap_method)

  • Controlled, the block calculates the thrust and power coefficients as

    CT*=tablelookup(P/DTLU,βTLU,CT,TLU*,P/D,β,interpolation = interp_method,extrapolation = extrap_method)CQ*=tablelookup(P/DTLU,βTLU,CQ,TLU*,P/D,β,interpolation = interp_method,extrapolation = extrap_method)

The basis of the propeller efficiency is the fundamental relationship

η=PoweroutPowerin=TVA2πεnQ=VACT*2πεnDCQ*.

When Efficiency sensor is on, the block calculates the smoothed efficiency as

η=12πDVA2C*2+(DπnThrKThr)2n2CQ*2+(0.1nThrKThr)2.

Blade Element Lift and Drag Coefficients

When you set Parameterization to Tabulated data for airfoil lift and drag coefficients, you can parameterize the lift and drag coefficients and the airfoil geometry for a given blade element. The block treats the propeller as a continuous disc. Conservation of momentum applies to the air that crosses the disc when the block calculates the induced velocity, vi. The block uses the induced velocity to find the magnitude and direction of the total flow velocity at a vector of radial locations along the blade, which it then uses to find lift and drag based on the lift and drag coefficient lookup tables. These quantities are specific to this parameterization:

  • TMT — Thrust calculated by momentum theory

  • vi — Flow velocity induced by the motion of the propeller

  • vinflow — Freestream inflow velocity of the air that the propeller experiences

  • vax — Axial velocity at the blade location

  • vh — Theoretical hover-induced velocity

  • λ — Non-dimensionalized vax

  • g(λ) — Function the block uses for inflow

  • TBET — Thrust as calculated by blade element theory

  • QBET — Torque as calculated by blade element theory

  • Nblades — Number of propeller blades

  • r — Discrete blade element location as defined by the Nondimensional radial location vector, r parameter, which the block interpolates to find y

  • c — Chord length for at a position along the blade, where the length is non-dimensionalized such that c = Geometric chord length/D

  • e — Nondimensional location of the root cutout as given by the first element of the Nondimensional radial location vector, r parameter

  • vr(y) — Tangential velocity as a function of y

  • Cl,Cd — Element-wise coefficients of the lift and drag, respectively

  • ϕ(y) — Inflow angle at a given point along the blade

The block uses momentum theory to define a smoothed thrust equation such that

TMT=2ρπD24vinflowvi,

where the block implicitly solves for TMT and vi. The figure shows how the block considers translational motion. The larger area enclosed in the dotted line includes internal mass. The smaller area does not.

This figure shows how the block considers rotational motion. The larger area enclosed in the dotted line includes internal inertia. The smaller area does not.

The block smoothes vax to find vinflow, which allows for transitions between forward and astern flow such that

vinflow=vax2+vh2g(λ)vh=2|TMT|ρπD2λ=2vax/ωDg(λ)={(2+λ)2λ2+(1+λ)(0.109+0.217(λ0.15)2)for 1λ0.63780else.

The block interpolates the values from the Nondimensional radial location vector, r parameter to find y. Then the block interpolates the lift and drag coefficients to find Cl(y) and Cd(y) based upon the tabulated angle of attack and lift and drag coefficients. The block uses blade element theory to calculate the thrust and torque such that

TBET=NbladesρD24e1(vr2+vax2)(Clcosϕ(y)Cdsinϕ(y))cdyQBET=NbladesρD38e1(vr2+vax2)(Clsinϕ(y)Cdcosϕ(y))cydy

The block performs this integration across the each discrete blade element. The block discretizes y according to the specification in the Number of blade elements parameter. This figure summarizes the directions of forces and torques with respect to the ground.

Controlled Pitch

When you set Blade pitch type to Controlled, you can parameterize the propeller over a range of pitch angles, θ. You must specify θ as a vector in the Pitch angle vector, θ parameter, where each element corresponds to a row in both the kT and kP arrays.

Inertia

You can optionally include translational and rotational propeller inertia. To simulate inertia, set Rotational connections or Translational connections to Conserving, and select Model inertia. When you select Model inertia and set Rotational connections to Conserving, set the initial rotational velocity or torque on the shaft in the Initial Targets section, or set an algebraically linked variable to high priority to initialize the rotational inertia. When you select Model inertia and set Translational connections to Conserving, set the initial translational velocity or thrust in the Initial Targets section, or set an algebraically linked variable to high priority to initialize the translational mass.

Note

For rotational conserving connections, the block logs Q, the aerodynamic torque, and Inertia.t.

For translational conserving connections, the block logs thrust, the aerodynamic thrust, and mass.f.

You can use an Ideal Torque Sensor or Ideal Force Sensor blocks to log the sum of the inertia and the aerodynamic torque or force, respectively.

Assumptions and Limitations

  • The block treats the fluid velocity as quasi-steady in time. Fluid flows uniformly over the propeller.

  • The block only accounts for axial flow across the propeller.

  • When you set Parameterization to Polynomial fit, the block assumes that the propeller power and thrust coefficients are symmetric with the first quadrant.

  • When you set Parameterization to Tabulated data for advance ratio, the block assumes the power and thrust coefficients are identical in the first and third quadrants and the second and fourth quadrants. If all elements of J are positive, then the block assumes the coefficients in all quadrants are symmetric with the first quadrant.

  • When you set Parameterization to Tabulated data for advance angle, the block removes the sign from Va. To attain negative thrusts and torques, you must include the signs in the values of CT and CQ.

Variables

To set the priority and initial target values for the block variables prior to simulation, use the Initial Targets section in the block dialog box or Property Inspector. For more information, see Set Priority and Initial Target for Block Variables.

Nominal values provide a way to specify the expected magnitude of a variable in a model. Using system scaling based on nominal values increases the simulation robustness. Nominal values can come from different sources, one of which is the Nominal Values section in the block dialog box or Property Inspector. For more information, see Modify Nominal Values for a Block Variable.

Examples

Ports

Inputs

expand all

Physical signal input port associated with the speed of the flow through the propeller, in m/s.

Dependencies

To enable this port, set Translational connections to Physical signals.

Physical signal input port associated with the blade pitch, in degrees.

Dependencies

To enable this port, set Blade pitch type to Controlled.

Physical signal input port associated with the fluid density, in kg/m3.

Dependencies

To enable this port, set Fluid density specification to Variable.

Physical signal port associated with the propeller rotational velocity, in rad/s.

Dependencies

To enable this port, set Rotational connections to Physical signals.

Outputs

expand all

Physical signal output port associated with the thrust generated by the propeller, in N.

Dependencies

To enable this port, set Translational connections to Physical signals.

Physical signal output port associated with the efficiency of the propeller. The efficiency signal is a function of the absolute value of the advance ratio.

Dependencies

To enable this port, select Efficiency sensor.

Physical signal port associated with the propeller resistive drag, in N*m.

Dependencies

To enable this port, set Rotational connections to Physical signals.

Conserving

expand all

Mechanical rotational conserving port associated with the rod interface.

Dependencies

To enable this port, set Rotational connections to Conserving.

Mechanical translational conserving port associated with the vehicle velocity and thrust.

Dependencies

To enable this port, set Translational connections to Conserving.

Mechanical translational conserving port associated with the motion of the air or wind that the propeller pushes against.

Dependencies

To enable this port, set Translational connections to Conserving.

Parameters

expand all

Propeller

Option to parameterize the propeller by constant, polynomial, tabulated thrust and power coefficients, or tabulated lift and drag coefficients. Choose from these settings:

  • Constant coefficients — Use constant coefficients of thrust and power with respect to the advance ratio.

  • Polynomial fit — Use polynomial coefficients to parameterize the advance ratio.

  • Tabulated data for advance ratio — Use tabulated advance ratio data to parameterize the advance ratio.

  • Tabulated data for advance angle — Use thrust and power coefficients with respect to the relative advance velocity at 70% of the blade radius.

  • Tabulated data for airfoil lift and drag coefficients — Use lift and drag coefficients with respect to the position along the blade.

Direction of typical propeller rotation. When you select:

  • Positive rotational velocity generates positive thrust for positive thrust coefficientsε = +1.

  • Negative rotational velocity generates positive thrust for positive thrust coefficientsε = -1.

Diameter of the propeller.

Type of blade to model. Select Constant for a blade with constant pitch or Controlled for a blade with variable pitch that you specify using the θ port.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Parameterization to

  • Polynomial fit

  • Tabulated data for advance ratio

  • Tabulated data for advance angle

  • Tabulated data for airfoil lift and drag coefficients

Nondimensional constant thrust coefficient.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Parameterization to Constant coefficients.

Nondimensional constant power coefficient.

Vector of nondimensional polynomial thrust coefficients. Specify the elements in descending order. The block uses these coefficients to generate a lookup table. For more information, see Using Lookup Tables in Equations.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set:

  • Parameterization to Polynomial fit

  • Blade pitch type to Constant

Vector of nondimensional polynomial power coefficients. Specify the elements in descending order. The block uses these coefficients to generate a lookup table. For more information, see Using Lookup Tables in Equations.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set:

  • Parameterization to Polynomial fit

  • Blade pitch type to Constant

Reference pitch angles when Blade type is Controlled.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set:

  • Parameterization to Polynomial fit, Tabulated data for advance ratio, or Tabulated data for advance angle

  • Blade pitch type to Controlled

Table of polynomial thrust coefficient vectors for the given θ in the Pitch angle vector, θ parameter.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set:

  • Parameterization to Tabulated data for advance ratio

  • Blade pitch type to Controlled

Table of polynomial torque coefficient vectors for the given θ in the Pitch angle vector, θ parameter.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set:

  • Parameterization to Tabulated data for advance ratio

  • Blade pitch type to Controlled

Tabulated advance ratios. Each element has a corresponding element in the Thrust coefficient vector, kT(J) and Power coefficient vector, kP(J) parameters or a column in the Thrust coefficient table, kT(θ, J) and Power coefficient table, kT(θ, J) parameters.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Parameterization to Tabulated coefficients.

Tabulated thrust coefficient values as a function of the advance ratio.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set:

  • Parameterization to Tabulated data for advance ratio

  • Blade pitch type to Constant

Tabulated power coefficient values as a function of the advance ratio.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set:

  • Parameterization to Tabulated data for advance ratio

  • Blade pitch type to Constant

Tabulated thrust coefficient values as a function of the pitch angle and the advance ratio. The columns correspond to the elements in the Advance ratio vector, J parameter and the rows correspond to the elements in the Pitch angle vector, θ parameter.

The default value is [.00019, .013, .0048, -.017, -.03, -.045; .00039, .025, .0096, -.037, -.06, -.09; .00061, .047, .032, -.013, -.034, -.063; .00086, .072, .057, .014, -.0076, -.036; .12, .104, .09, .049, .029, .0019].

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set:

  • Parameterization to Tabulated data for advance ratio

  • Blade pitch type to Controlled

Tabulated power coefficient values as a function of the pitch angle and the advance ratio. The columns correspond to the elements in the Advance ratio vector, J parameter and the rows correspond to the elements in the Pitch angle vector, θ parameter.

The default value is [.029, .029, .016, .06, .009, -.16; .059, .054, .031, -.12, -.19, -.29; .15, .13, .12, -.052, -.15, -.28; .26, .24, .22, .097, -.04, -.25; .39, .39, .38, .32, .24, .062].

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set:

  • Parameterization to Tabulated data for advance ratio

  • Blade pitch type to Controlled

Tabulated advance angles. Use a monotonically increasing vector where the elements are in the range [0, 360] deg. During simulation, the propeller advance angle can be in the range [0, 360) deg, where the block wraps the angle between 0 and 360 degrees.

When you set Extrapolation method to Linear or Nearest:

  • If the first element is not 0, then the block extrapolates based on the first one or two elements when β is less than the first element.

  • If the last element is not equivalent to 360 deg, then the block extrapolates nased on the last one or two elements when β is greater than the last element.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Parameterization to Tabulated data for advance angle.

Tabulated thrust coefficients as a function of the advance angle. This coefficient depends on the blade relative advance velocity at 70% of the blade radius. The elements in this vector must correspond one-to-one with the Advance angle vector, β parameter.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Parameterization to Tabulated data for advance angle and set Blade pitch type to Constant.

Tabulated resistive torque coefficient as a function of advance angle. This coefficient is based on blade relative advance velocity at 70% of the blade radius. The elements in this vector must correspond one-to-one with the Advance angle vector, β parameter.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Parameterization to Tabulated data for advance angle and set Blade pitch type to Constant.

Tabulated thrust coefficients as a function of pitch angle and advance angle. The default value is [0.01 * sind(linspace(0, 360, 10) - 200); 0.020 * sind(linspace(0, 360, 10) - 200); 0.035 * sind(linspace(0, 360, 10) - 200); 0.04 * sind(linspace(0, 360, 10) - 200); 0.06 * sind(linspace(0, 360, 10) - 200)].

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Parameterization to Tabulated data for advance angle and set Blade pitch type to Controlled.

Tabulated torque coefficients as a function of pitch angle and advance angle. The default value is [0.0005 * sind(linspace(0, 360, 10) - 200); 0.0015 * sind(linspace(0, 360, 10) - 200); 0.0025 * sind(linspace(0, 360, 10) - 200); 0.0035 * sind(linspace(0, 360, 10) - 200); 0.0045 * sind(linspace(0, 360, 10) - 200)].

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Parameterization to Tabulated data for advance angle and set Blade pitch type to Controlled.

Method to use for lookup table breakpoint interpolation. The block uses the tablelookup function to model nonlinearity by using array data to map input values to output values:

  • Linear — Select this option for the lowest computational cost.

  • Smooth — Select this option to produce a continuous curve with continuous first-order derivatives.

For more information, see tablelookup.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Parameterization to Tabulated data for advance ratio or Tabulated data for advance angle.

Method to use for lookup table breakpoint extrapolation. This method determines the output value when the input value is outside the range specified in the argument list. The block uses the tablelookup function to model nonlinearity by using array data to map input values to output values:

  • Linear — Select this option to produce a curve with continuous first-order derivatives in the extrapolation region and at the boundary with the interpolation region.

  • Nearest — Select this option to produce an extrapolation that does not go above the highest point in the data or below the lowest point in the data.

  • Error — Select this option to avoid extrapolating when you want your data to be within the table range. If the input signal is outside the range of the table, the simulation stops and generates an error.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Parameterization to Tabulated data for advance ratio or Tabulated data for advance angle.

Constant pitch offset angle of the propeller blades.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Parameterization to Tabulated data for airfoil lift and drag coefficients and Blade pitch type to Constant.

Number of propeller blades.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Parameterization to Tabulated data for airfoil lift and drag coefficients.

Number of blade elements for a single blade.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Parameterization to Tabulated data for airfoil lift and drag coefficients.

Radial location for a given set of blade dimensions. 1 is equivalent to the radius of the blade. The first element of this vector defines e, the root cutout.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Parameterization to Tabulated data for airfoil lift and drag coefficients.

Blade twist angles, θ, for a given radial location. The elements of this vector correspond one-to-one with the Nondimensional radial location vector, r parameter.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Parameterization to Tabulated data for airfoil lift and drag coefficients.

Chord length normalized by diameter for a given radial location along the blade. The elements of this vector correspond one-to-one with the Nondimensional radial location vector, r parameter and the columns of the Airfoil lift coefficient table, Cl(α,r) and Airfoil drag coefficient table, Cd(α,r) parameters.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Parameterization to Tabulated data for airfoil lift and drag coefficients.

Angle of attack range. The elements of this vector correspond one-to-one with the rows of the Airfoil lift coefficient table, Cl(α,r) and Airfoil drag coefficient table, Cd(α,r) parameters.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Parameterization to Tabulated data for airfoil lift and drag coefficients.

Airfoil lift coefficients for a given angle of attack and radial location along the blade. The rows in this matrix correspond one-to-one with the Airfoil angle of attack vector, α parameter. The columns in this matrix correspond one-to-one with the Nondimensional radial location vector, r parameter.

The default value is [.1326, .1326, .1274, .1274, .1274, .1274, .1274; .3626, .3626, .5002, .5002, .5002, .5002, .5002; .5528, .5528, .8007, .8007, .8007, .8007, .8007; .7256, .7256, 1.0125, 1.0125, 1.0125, 1.0125, 1.0125; .8016, .8016, 1.1556, 1.1556, 1.1556, 1.1556, 1.1556; .7873, .7873, 1.1604, 1.1604, 1.1604, 1.1604, 1.1604; .7031, .7031, 1.0493, 1.0493, 1.0493, 1.0493, 1.0493; .5423, .5423, .7973, .7973, .7973, .7973, .7973; .3537, .3537, .4332, .4332, .4332, .4332, .4332; .1155, .1155, -.0376, -.0376, -.0376, -.0376, -.0376; -.1045, -.1045, -.4096, -.4096, -.4096, -.4096, -.4096; -.2999, -.2999, -.672, -.672, -.672, -.672, -.672; -.4401, -.4401, -.9343, -.9343, -.9343, -.9343, -.9343; -.5186, -.5186, -1.0477, -1.0477, -1.0477, -1.0477, -1.0477; -.5303, -.5303, -1.0387, -1.0387, -1.0387, -1.0387, -1.0387; -.5073, -.5073, -.9565, -.9565, -.9565, -.9565, -.9565; -.442, -.442, -.7713, -.7713, -.7713, -.7713, -.7713; -.2658, -.2658, -.4832, -.4832, -.4832, -.4832, -.4832; .4109, .4109, .3629, .3629, .3629, .3629, .3629; 1.1635, 1.1635, 1.3779, 1.3779, 1.3779, 1.3779, 1.3779; 1.2412, 1.2412, 1.4033, 1.4033, 1.4033, 1.4033, 1.4033; .7434, .7434, 1.3453, 1.3453, 1.3453, 1.3453, 1.3453; .7908, .7908, 1.2862, 1.2862, 1.2862, 1.2862, 1.2862; .7525, .7525, 1.1562, 1.1562, 1.1562, 1.1562, 1.1562; .6722, .6722, .9487, .9487, .9487, .9487, .9487; .5324, .5324, .7047, .7047, .7047, .7047, .7047; .3365, .3365, .382, .382, .382, .382, .382; .0529, .0529, -.0229, -.0229, -.0229, -.0229, -.0229; -.2728, -.2728, -.316, -.316, -.316, -.316, -.316; -.4135, -.4135, -.6195, -.6195, -.6195, -.6195, -.6195; -.5087, -.5087, -.7847, -.7847, -.7847, -.7847, -.7847; -.5342, -.5342, -.8419, -.8419, -.8419, -.8419, -.8419; -.5166, -.5166, -.7658, -.7658, -.7658, -.7658, -.7658; -.4321, -.4321, -.5707, -.5707, -.5707, -.5707, -.5707; -.2864, -.2864, -.3098, -.3098, -.3098, -.3098, -.3098; -.1073, -.1073, -.0893, -.0893, -.0893, -.0893, -.0893; .1326, .1326, .1274, .1274, .1274, .1274, .1274].

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Parameterization to Tabulated data for airfoil lift and drag coefficients.

Airfoil drag coefficients for a given angle of attack and radial location along the blade. The rows in this matrix correspond one-to-one with the Airfoil angle of attack vector, α parameter. The columns in this matrix correspond one-to-one with the Nondimensional radial location vector, r parameter.

The default value is [.0055, .0055, .3904, .3904, .3904, .3904, .3904; .0774, .0774, .449, .449, .449, .449, .449; .2412, .2412, .5915, .5915, .5915, .5915, .5915; .4342, .4342, .8307, .8307, .8307, .8307, .8307; .679, .679, 1.0909, 1.0909, 1.0909, 1.0909, 1.0909; .9003, .9003, 1.3868, 1.3868, 1.3868, 1.3868, 1.3868; 1.0825, 1.0825, 1.6565, 1.6565, 1.6565, 1.6565, 1.6565; 1.2281, 1.2281, 1.875, 1.875, 1.875, 1.875, 1.875; 1.3205, 1.3205, 2.017, 2.017, 2.017, 2.017, 2.017; 1.3234, 1.3234, 2.0407, 2.0407, 2.0407, 2.0407, 2.0407; 1.2391, 1.2391, 1.9513, 1.9513, 1.9513, 1.9513, 1.9513; 1.0963, 1.0963, 1.7643, 1.7643, 1.7643, 1.7643, 1.7643; .8978, .8978, 1.5048, 1.5048, 1.5048, 1.5048, 1.5048; .6525, .6525, 1.2281, 1.2281, 1.2281, 1.2281, 1.2281; .4203, .4203, .838, .838, .838, .838, .838; .2428, .2428, .5434, .5434, .5434, .5434, .5434; .0951, .0951, .2517, .2517, .2517, .2517, .2517; .0292, .0292, .0698, .0698, .0698, .0698, .0698; .0148, .0148, .0267, .0267, .0267, .0267, .0267; .0808, .0808, .0509, .0509, .0509, .0509, .0509; .2429, .2429, .1561, .1561, .1561, .1561, .1561; .5019, .5019, .3927, .3927, .3927, .3927, .3927; .7217, .7217, .7438, .7438, .7438, .7438, .7438; .9336, .9336, 1.1277, 1.1277, 1.1277, 1.1277, 1.1277; 1.0984, 1.0984, 1.4838, 1.4838, 1.4838, 1.4838, 1.4838; 1.2274, 1.2274, 1.7877, 1.7877, 1.7877, 1.7877, 1.7877; 1.3016, 1.3016, 1.9779, 1.9779, 1.9779, 1.9779, 1.9779; 1.3305, 1.3305, 2.0516, 2.0516, 2.0516, 2.0516, 2.0516; 1.2889, 1.2889, 1.9974, 1.9974, 1.9974, 1.9974, 1.9974; 1.1677, 1.1677, 1.8463, 1.8463, 1.8463, 1.8463, 1.8463; 1.0076, 1.0076, 1.5699, 1.5699, 1.5699, 1.5699, 1.5699; .8068, .8068, 1.2596, 1.2596, 1.2596, 1.2596, 1.2596; .5688, .5688, .9493, .9493, .9493, .9493, .9493; .3604, .3604, .6154, .6154, .6154, .6154, .6154; .1802, .1802, .5015, .5015, .5015, .5015, .5015; .0699, .0699, .4265, .4265, .4265, .4265, .4265; .0055, .0055, .3904, .3904, .3904, .3904, .3904].

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Parameterization to Tabulated data for airfoil lift and drag coefficients.

Environment and Dynamics

Option to specify a constant or variable fluid density.

Constant fluid density value.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Fluid density specification to Constant.

Option to simulate propeller rotational velocity and resistive drag torque as physical signal inputs and outputs, respectively, or as rotational connections. This setting determines the color of the hub in the icon, which indicates whether the block is in the rotational conserving or physical signal domain.

Option to simulate advance velocity and propeller thrust as physical signal inputs and outputs, respectively, or as translational connections. This setting determines the color of the of the blades in the icon, which indicates whether the block is in the translational conserving or physical signal domain. When you select Conserving, the constant wake fraction reduces the advance velocity relative to the vehicle velocity.

Whether to simulate inertia due to the motion of the rotor. The block applies rotational inertia at port R1 and translational inertia at port R2.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Rotational connections or Translational connections to conserving.

Inertia of the propeller assembly. The block applies the inertia at port R1.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Rotational connections to conserving and select Model inertia.

Mass of the propeller assembly. The block applies the translational inertia at port R2.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Translational connections to conserving and select Model inertia.

Advanced

Whether to enable the efficiency port E, which outputs a positive-valued efficiency signal.

Saturation threshold value, nThr, beyond which the block applies smoothing up to the point of saturation.

Saturation threshold value, kThr, where the block applies smoothing to nondimensional coefficients.

Whether to generate a warning or error when the propeller exceeds the operating parameters. The block checks whether the propeller is operating in the first quadrant. If either Va or n(t) are not positive, the propeller generates thrust and torque coefficients with the appropriate signs and a warning or error, depending on the parameter setting. As you raise the value for the Rotational speed threshold parameter, the trigger becomes less sensitive.

When you set Parameterization to Polynomial fit, the block generates a warning or error when the propeller exceeds the first positive root of the kT parameter.

The block approximates the hydrodynamics using symmetric or asymmetric behavior with respect to the first quadrant.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Parameterization to Polynomial fit or Tabulated data for advance ratio.

Power threshold when calculating efficiency.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Parameterization to Tabulated data for airfoil lift and drag coefficients and select Efficiency sensor.

Extended Capabilities

C/C++ Code Generation
Generate C and C++ code using Simulink® Coder™.

Version History

Introduced in R2022b

expand all