diff --git a/contents/intro.tex b/contents/intro.tex index df3907ea7a45e8bad96ed44e7f3eac03114865fe..38e0f51c8c5cc99dfea706f674597b9b6faf0e6b 100644 --- a/contents/intro.tex +++ b/contents/intro.tex @@ -13,5 +13,48 @@ \chapter*{Introduction} \label{chap:intro} +\rotare is a feature-rich and open-source implementation of the Blade Element +Momentum Theory (BEMT) in \matlab. +This software can be used for the analysis and the design of all kinds of +rotors: helicopters main/tail rotors, aircraft propellers, wind/tidal turbines, +etc. +\rotare was developed primarily for teaching purposes at the +\href{\amURL}{University of Liege} (Belgium) by \href{\tlambertURL}{Thomas +Lambert} during his Ph.D. The code was later extended to add different solvers, +many extensions to the base methodology and to support more complex geometries. +It is now a complete analysis tool that can be used in a wide range of +applications outside of academia. + + +The present documentation is divided in two main parts: +\begin{enumerate} + \item \textbf{The user manual} (Part~\ref{part:user}), with practical details + about the installation and usage of the code. + \item \textbf{The technical manual} (Part~\ref{part:tech}), with details + regarding the code architecture and all the theory underlying the + implementation. +\end{enumerate} + +\section*{Features} % (fold) +\label{sec:features} + +\rotare currently supports blade geometries with varying twist, chord and +airfoil. It can either model single rotors in isolation or coaxial rotors. +Single rotors can either be studied in steady condition (\eg hovering +helicopter), axial flow (\eg aircraft propeller, wind turbines) or oblique +flow\footnote{Only for single rotor cases.} +(\eg tiltrotor) + +Multiple corrections and extensions have been implemented to the base +methodology, such as: tip/hub losses, compressibility effects, spinner effects, +etc (see Chapter~\ref{chap:tech:ext}). + +Different solvers for the BEMT equations are implemented in the software (see +Chapter~\ref{chap:tech:solvers} for complete description). While they all solve +the same initial set of equations, they differ on the methodology for the +resolution or the hypotheses made to solve the equations. Even though some +solvers are clearly superior to others, this redundant implementation is +especially useful for teaching purposes. Indeed, it allows to compare the +quality of the results, the convergence or the effect of additional hypotheses.