Rotorcraft suffer from relatively high vibratory levels, due to exposure to significant vibratory load levels originating from rotors. As a result, pilots are typically exposed to vibrations, which have non-negligible consequences. Among those, one important issue is the degradation of instrument reading, which is a result of complex human-machine interaction. Both involuntary acceleration of the eyes as a result of biodynamics and vibration of the instrument panel contribute to a likely reduction in instrument reading capability, affecting flight safety. Therefore, being able to estimate the expected level of degradation in visual performance may give substantial benefits during vehicle design, allowing to make necessary adjustments while there is room for design changes or when retrofitting an existing aircraft to ensure the modifications do not adversely affect visual acuity and instrument reading ability. For this purpose, simulation is a very valuable tool as a proper model helps to understand the aircraft characteristics before conducting flight tests. This work presents the assessment of vibration-induced visual degradation of helicopter pilots under vibration exposure using a modular analysis environment. Core elements of the suggested analysis framework are an aeroelastic model of the helicopter, a model of the seat-cushion subsystem, a detailed multibody model of the human biodynamics, and a simplified model of ocular dynamics. These elements are combined into a comprehensive, fully coupled model. The contribution of each element to instrument reading degradation is examined, after defining an appropriate figure of merit that includes both eye and instrument panel vibration, in application to a numerical model representative of a medium-weight helicopter.


    Zugriff

    Download


    Exportieren, teilen und zitieren



    Titel :

    A numerical study of vibration-induced instrument reading capability degradation in helicopter pilots


    Weitere Titelangaben:

    CEAS Aeronaut J


    Beteiligte:

    Erschienen in:

    CEAS Aeronautical Journal ; 12 , 2 ; 427-440


    Erscheinungsdatum :

    2021-04-01


    Format / Umfang :

    14 pages




    Medientyp :

    Aufsatz (Zeitschrift)


    Format :

    Elektronische Ressource


    Sprache :

    Englisch





    GENERALIZED MEASURE OF VIBRATION EXPOSURE FOR HELICOPTER PILOTS

    Tamer, A. / Zanoni, A. / Cocco, A. et al. | TIBKAT | 2020


    Visual Performance/Workload of Helicopter Pilots during Instrument Flight

    R. R. Simmons / M. A. Lees / K. A. Kimball | NTIS | 1978


    Vertebral pain in helicopter pilots

    Auffret, R. / Delahaye, R. P. / Metges, P. J. et al. | NTRS | 1980


    Navy school for helicopter pilots

    Wiskerchen, R.L. | Engineering Index Backfile | 1949


    Fatal traps for helicopter pilots

    Whyte, Greg | TIBKAT | 2007