Detailed studies of the boundary layer profile and the characteristics of the flow velocity distribution close to the leading edge of a helicopter blade profile were conducted using the embedded laser doppler velocimetry (ELDV) and stereo-PIV. The relatively small scales of flow structures related to dynamic stall, motivated an additional 2C-PIV study in which the flow field has been measured with a relatively high spatial resolution. The feasibility of PIV measurements utilizing a mirror telescope in a wind tunnel has been demonstrated successfully. The spatial resolution of approximately 50 μm allowed a judgment on the choice of turbulence models and damping
coefficients for the improvement of CFD predictions
