PIV wake survey of a drone propeller for amphibious applications

Abstract Aerial and underwater drones are one of the most attractive technologies to a large number applications, extending from surveillance natural reserves monitoring structures. For these reasons, innovative uncommon applications constantly appearing. Within this context, capable operate continuously efficiently in air water can extend standard aerial capabilities allowing inspections harbour structures, pipelines or marine reserves. reason, an characteristic for is capability manoeuvre different fluids as water. This article presents experimental campaign, carried out both towing tank cavitation tunnel, aimed at study fluid-dynamics aeronautic drone-propeller off-design conditions. Dynamometric, PIV Stereo-PIV tests evaluate propeller functioning optimize it amphibious missions. In particular, forces measured advance ratios J provided by varying rotational regime free stream velocity, open conditions (Towing tests) confined (Cavitation tunnel tests). fields, acquired Cavitation allow us investigate behaviour selected, operative