Comparative flutter tests on two, three, four and five-blade propellers

Abstract

This report describes comparative flutter tests on two, three, four-and five-blade Duralumin propellers with the same blade design. The tests were made on the No. 3 spinning tower, Royal Aircraft Establishment. Straingauges were used for determining the vibratory stresses and the phase relations between the blades. A wide range of blade angles above and below the stalling region was explored. Stalling flutter was the only form encountered. The phase relation of the blades was found to be dependent on number of blades and speed of rotation, and to influence the amplitude of the vibratory stresses. It is shown that no direct comparison of the flutter characteristics of the two, three, four and five-blade propellers can be made.