Numerical Research of Aerodynamic Sweep on Leading Edge in the Ram-Rotor

In order to diminish the flow loss in the ram-rotor and improve its aerodynamic performance, the effect of forward and backward swept leading edge on flow field and shock pattern in the ram-rotor was investigated using 3-dimensional steady CFD. Ram-rotors with sweeping angles of −60°, −30°, −15°, 0°, 15°, 30°, 60° were modeled, and ram-rotor performance, shock pattern and leakage flow in different swept schemes were the main focuses of attention. The effect of sweeping angle was also discussed in this paper. It has been found that forward sweep makes performance curves move to high mass flow rate zone in the performance map. Meanwhile, strake tip loading decreases, and maximum adiabatic efficiency increases by 0.31% compared to baseline ram-rotor. Contrary to the forward swept scheme, performance curves of backward sweep schemes shift to small mass flow rate zone, and the tip leakage near front part of strake is enhanced. Backward sweep plays a positive role in improving pressure ratio with a maximum increment of 0.46% at peak efficiency point, but causes a high flow loss. As sweeping angle changes, there is an optimum angle value to get a high performance.