2018

Propeller Design

Technical Report 2:
Propeller Sizing

Designed by:
Argel C. Uy
 Technical Report 2: Propeller Sizing 1

I. Introduction
This report includes the computation for width or chord, thickness and the
decided number of stations with their respective distances from the hub. With the data
from the previous report, we will determine whether what diameter of propeller we will
be using whichever is larger.
II. Reference Aircraft Specification

From Technical Report No. 1, Preliminary Design Specifications:

Engine : 1 x Clerget 9B
No. of Cylinders : 9
Engine Brake Horsepower (BHP) : 130 hp
Revolutions per Minute (RPM) : 1300
Aircraft Top Speed (Vmax) : 113 mph

I. Estimation of Propeller Diameter

A. Propeller Diameter Estimation

303 4 𝐵𝐻𝑃
𝐷= ( √𝑉𝑚𝑎𝑥 (𝑚𝑝ℎ)) (2.1)
√𝑅𝑃𝑀

Equation 2.1 Formula for the diameter given the engine and aircraft specifications

303 4 130
𝐷= (√ )
√1300 113 (𝑚𝑝ℎ)

DFT = 8.703 ft or 9 ft
DIN = 108 in = 110 in (For less stations)
Computed Diameter Engine Propeller
110 in 98.4 in

Table 2.1 Propeller Diameter

From the Table 2.1 we can determine that the computed diameter is larger than the engine
propeller. Therefore we will be using 55 in as our radius.

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 Technical Report 2: Propeller Sizing 2

B. Blade Station, r

I decided that the diameter to be used is 110 in so that the distances from the hub of each
stations will always be whole number.

Radius Per Station

Distance from the hub
Station
(in)
Hub 0
1 5
2 10
3 15
4 20
5 25
6 30
7 35
8 40
9 45
10 50
11 55

Table 2.2 Distance of each station from the propeller hub

II. Estimation of Propeller Width (b)

To find the width or the chord for different sections, compute for radius ratio and its width
ratio can be found on width ratio curve Figure 2.1 by Jones. The after determining the ratio, we
will now be able to solve for the chord using Equation 2.2.

A. Propeller Width Formula

𝑏 = 𝐷 𝑥 𝑘𝑏 (2)

Equation 2.2 Formula for the propeller width

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 Technical Report 2: Propeller Sizing 3

Where: r = Propeller Radius at station (in)

R= Total Propeller Radius (in)
b = Propeller Width at element (in)
D = Propeller Diameter (in)
kb = Width Ratio from width ratio curve

B. The Width Ratio Curve

Width Ratio Curve

Coordinates
𝑟/𝑅 kb
0.10 0.026
0.20 0.034
0.30 0.050
0.40 0.062
0.50 0.070
0.60 0.068
0.70 0.063
0.80 0.053
0.90 0.042
1.00 0.027

Table 2.3 Plotted values of the width ratio curve

Width Ratio Curve

0.08 0.07 0.068
0.07 0.062 0.063
0.06 0.05 0.053
0.05 0.042
0.034
kb

0.04
0.026 0.027
0.03
0.02
0.01
0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2
r/R

Figure 2.1 The Width Ratio Curve (Jones, 1939)

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 Technical Report 2: Propeller Sizing 4

C. Calculated Values of the Blade Width at Each Station

After finding the kb from Figure 2.1 using the computed r/R, the width from different
sections can now be computed.

Calculated Width at each Station, b

Station r/R kb b (in)
Hub 0 n/a n/a
1 0.09 0.025 2.75
2 0.18 0.032 3.52
3 0.27 0.046 5.06
4 0.36 0.056 6.16
5 0.45 0.067 7.37
6 0.54 0.069 7.59
7 0.63 0.067 7.37
8 0.72 0.061 6.71
9 0.81 0.052 5.72
10 0.90 0.041 4.51
11 1.00 0.027 2.97

Table 2.4 Calculated Propeller Width at each Blade Station

III. Estimation of Blade Thickness, t

The computed width for each section will be used in computing for the thickness for
different sections. It is also known as the chord of the airfoil. Using similar method, we can
computed for the thickness using Equation 2.3, and from Figure 2.2 we will be able to get the
thickness to width ratio with their corresponding radius ratio.

A. Propeller Thickness Formula

𝑡 = 𝑏 𝑥 𝑘𝑡 (2.3)

Equation 2.3 Formula for the propeller thickness

Where: t = Blade Thickness at each station (in)

b = Blade Width at corresponding station (in)
Kt = Thickness to Width Ratio from camber ratio
curve

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 Technical Report 2: Propeller Sizing 5

B. Camber Ratio from Camber Ratio Curve, Kt

Camber Ratio Curve

Coordinates
𝑟
Kt
𝑅
0.10 0.980
0.20 0.740
0.30 0.280
0.40 0.160
0.50 0.110
0.60 0.080
0.70 0.070
0.80 0.060
0.90 0.055
1.00 0.050

Table 2.5 Plotted Values of the Camber Ratio Curve

Camber Ratio Curve

1.1 0.98
1
0.9
0.74
0.8
0.7
0.6
kt

0.5
0.4 0.28
0.3
0.16
0.2 0.11 0.08 0.07 0.06 0.055 0.05
0.1
0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1 1.1
r/R

Figure 2.2 The Camber Ratio Curves (Jones, 1939)

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 Technical Report 2: Propeller Sizing 6

C. Thickness at each station, t

Using Figure 2.2 by Jones, we will be able to find the kt with the radius ratio r/R.

Calculated Thickness at each Station, t

Station r/R kt t (in)
Hub 0 n/a n/a
1 0.09 1 2.75
2 0.18 0.79 2.7808
3 0.27 0.36 1.8216
4 0.36 0.18 1.1088
5 0.45 0.14 1.0318
6 0.54 0.09 0.6831
7 0.63 0.08 0.5896
8 0.72 0.07 0.4697
9 0.81 0.06 0.3432
10 0.90 0.055 0.2480
11 1.00 0.05 0.1485

Table 2.6 Calculated Propeller Thickness at each Blade Station

IV. Estimation of Hub Dimension
A. Hub Diameter, Dhub
𝐷ℎ𝑢𝑏 = 𝑀𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑚𝑢𝑚 𝑊𝑖𝑑𝑡ℎ + 0.5 𝑖𝑛 (2.4)
Equation 2.4 Hub Diameter Formula
𝐷ℎ𝑢𝑏 = 7.59 + 0.5 = 8.09 𝑖𝑛
𝑫𝒉𝒖𝒃 = 𝟖. 𝟎𝟗 𝒊𝒏
B. Hub Thickness. Thub
𝑇ℎ𝑢𝑏 = 𝑀𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑚𝑢𝑚 𝑇ℎ𝑖𝑐𝑘𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑠 + 0.5 𝑖𝑛 (2.5)
Equation 2.5 Hub Thickness Formula
𝐷ℎ𝑢𝑏 = 2.78 + 0.5 = 3.28 𝑖𝑛
𝑻𝒉𝒖𝒃 = 𝟑. 𝟐𝟖 𝒊𝒏

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 Technical Report 2: Propeller Sizing 7

V. Summary of Propeller Dimensions

Station Distance from hub Blade Width (b) Blade Thickness (t)
No. Inches Inches Inches
Hub 0 n/a n/a
1 5 2.75 2.75
2 10 3.52 2.78
3 15 5.06 1.82
4 20 6.16 1.10
5 25 7.37 1.03
6 30 7.59 0.68
7 35 7.37 0.58
8 40 6.71 0.46
9 45 5.72 0.34
10 50 4.51 0.24
11 55 2.97 0.14

Table 2.7 Summary of the Propeller's Dimension

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 Technical Report 2: Propeller Sizing 8

Evaluation form for Technical Report

Name and Signature of

Student

Course: AE 512 Technical Report No. Remarks:

1st Sem – 2018-2019 Submission Date: Approval Date:

Your work will be assessed using the following criteria:

Rating
Criteria
1 2 3 4 Score
1. The students
The student is far The student The student
are able to The student submitted
from submitted their submitted their
finish their their incomplete
finishing/submitting technical report on technical report
technical technical report.
their technical report time ahead of time
report
2. The student
followed the Followed the format Followed and
Did not follow the Followed some of the
prescribed properly but not the enhanced the
format at all formats and standard
format and standard format/standard
standard
3. The contents Some of the All the contents are
All the contents and
are All the computations computations are correct but some
computations are
computations are incorrect incorrect computations are
correct.
are correct and/contents. not
4. The student is The student cannot The student can The students are The students are
able to explain explain their work at somehow explain able to explain their able to explain their
their work all their work work work in English
The student is unable The student can
5. The student is The student is barely
to work without help The student is able work independently
able to work able to work without
form instructor/co- to work without help with proper
independently help
student demeanor

TOTAL (over 20)

Recommendations
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

Engr. John Gabriel G. Decena

Course Instructor

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 Technical Report 2: Propeller Sizing 9

References

Jones, B. (1939). Elements of Practical Aerodynamics: Second Edition. London: John Wiley & Sons Inc.

PROPELLER DESIGN A.C.U