A Method for Predicting Helicopter Hub Drag

Abstract
A procedure has been developed to determine the contribution of the rotor hub to the total helicopter drag. The method developed uses a three- dimensional potential flow analysis to determine the flow environment in which the hub operates combined with empirical data in order to predict the drag of the hub and its associated interference drag. Predictions using the method are in good agreement with test data for unfaired and faired rotor hubs. A review of available rotor hub drag test data was conducted in order to identify the factors affecting helicopter rotor hub drag. The data base established was used in the development of the hub drag prediction method and also to define a systematic wind tunnel test program to refine and verify the drag prediction method and to investigate in detail the parameters affecting the drag contribution of the rotor hub.

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