Published online by Cambridge University Press: 19 April 2006
Analyses based on a three-dimensional vortex-filament model are presented for the unsteady pressure field generated by a ducted propeller. An oscillating part is identified in the kernels and absolute terms of the governing equations for the harmonic components, allowing two methods to be developed for the solution of the higher harmonics. The first method is exact and is applicable to ducted propellers with practical configurations (small chord-to-diameter ratio) while the second is approximate but more suitable for ducted systems with large chord-to-diameter ratios. The second method was applied to a configuration for which experimental data were available and good agreement was obtained for pressure harmonic amplitudes downstream of the propeller and for phase angles upstream of the propeller.
Special consideration was given to the Kutta-Joukowski condition at the duct trailing edge and a general constraint developed for the doubly coupled governing integral equations.