The aerodynamic operating environment of the helicopter is particularly complex and,\udto some extent, dominated by the vortices trailed from the main and tail rotors. These\udvortices not only determine the form of the induced flow field but also interact with\udeach other and with elements of the physical structure of the flight vehicle. Such\udinteractions can have implications in terms of structural vibration, noise generation\udand flight performance. In this paper, the interaction of main rotor vortices with the\udhelicopter tail rotor is considered and, in particular, the limiting case of the orthogonal\udinteraction. The significance of the topic is introduced by highlighting the operational\udissues for helicopters arising from tail rotor interactions. The basic phenomenon is\udthen described before experimental studies of the interaction are presented. Progress\udin numerical modelling is then considered and, finally, the prospects for future\udresearch in the area are discussed.
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