Downwash
Change in direction of air by rotor blade
In aeronautics, downwash is the change in direction of air deflected by the aerodynamic action of an airfoil, wing, or helicopter rotor blade in motion, as part of the process of producing lift. In helicopter aerodynamics discussions, it may be referred to as induced flow.
Lift on an airfoil is an example of the application of Newton's third law of motion, the force required to deflect the air in the downwards direction is equal in magnitude and opposite in direction to the lift force on the airfoil. Lift on an airfoil is also an example of the Kutta-Joukowski theorem. The Kutta condition explains the existence of downwash at the trailing edge of the wing.
Sources and credits
This article is adapted from the Wikipedia article “Downwash”, written by its contributors and licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Fathomly has changed the layout, removed citation markers, navigation and maintenance notices, and adjusted punctuation. This adapted version is shared under the same license. For references, see the original article.
Images, from Wikimedia Commons:
- US Navy 050419-N-5313A-414 Search and Rescue (SAR) swimmers attached to the Kearsarge Expeditionary Strike Group conduct search and rescue training during routine helicopter operations.jpg by U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate Airman Sarah E. Ard, Public domain
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