Sierra-Papa,
If this is a very very very simple persons forum then I must be a very very very simple person too - cos I like it here!
The reason why I say that it is a really complecated area is because it really is. If I try to explain Blade Element Theory, Vortex Theory, Potential Theory, or the numerical solution of the Reynolds Averaged Navier Stokes equations then 1) that little blue list at the top of the forum would soon deminish and 2) you'd be in for a very long post!
The momentum stuff I mentioned is strictly only applicable to the hover in the form I gave, though it can be readily extended to forward flight. (Which is the same as hovering into wind - your other point.)
All of the limitations that you pulled up are correct - these are the limitations of momentum theory, the progressively more rigorous rotor models I listed above take these factors into account.
With regards the state of the rotor - momentum theory only allows you to specify the disk area (i.e. Radius and root cutout) no other real rotor parameters are considered. Aerofoil characteristics, AoA, twist, taper, blah blah - all ignored. But don't get me wrong its still useful for many things.....
Last thing.....yeah, one of the effects of the tip vortex is to create a locally high inflow which reduces the local angle of attack, for a simple case you might assume the outer 3% of the blade produces no lift but DOES produce drag. (Simple fix, used in a blade element type calc.) Again put complex tips on the blades and it all gets a bit hairer and we have to think a bit harder.
Rock On
CRAN
