Static Thrust Testing in Propulsion Systems

Fluid propulsion systems are ubiquitous in mechanical design and are utilized anytime a relative force needs to be applied between a mechanical system and a fluid. All air and water craft employ fluid propulsion systems to provide propulsion forces or thrusts needed for acceleration and steering through the surrounding fluid. Their use is not limited to vehicles though. Stationary systems such as HVAC equipment also use propulsion systems. But in these cases they drive circulation of the fluid itself. This video will illustrate how thrust is produced by open operation fluid propulsion systems, a category that includes propellers and fans. And demonstrate how thrust and thrust efficiency can be estimated and measured in the laboratory.

The thrust from open operation fluid propulsion systems, such as airplane propellers or boat props, is produced by accelerating ambient fluid to a high velocity. These systems draw in fluid from a large upstream area and exhaust it downstream in a narrow jet. With an out flow area approximately the same as the area of the propeller face. Let's see how thrust is generated by taking a control volume approach. Begin by constructing a control volume along