This paper describes a feasibility study of vibration reduction in a four-bladed helicopter rotor using individual blade control (IBC) which is implemented by an individually controlled aerodynamic surface located on each blade. For this exploratory study a simple offset-hinged spring restrained model of the blade is used with fully coupled flap-lag-torsional dynamics for each blade. The rotor trim and blade response are obtained from a coupled trim and aeroelastic analysis. Deterministic controllers based on local and global system models are implemented to reduce 4/rev hub loads using both an actively controlled aerodynamic surface on each blade as well as conventional IBC, where the complete blade undergoes cyclic pitch change. The effectiveness of the two approaches for simultaneous reduction of the 4/rev hub shears and hub moments is compared. It was found that conventional IC requires considerably more power to achieve approximately the same level of vibration reduction as that obtained by implementing IBC using an active control surface located on the outboard segment of the blade. The effect of blade torsional flexibility on the vibration reduction effectiveness of the actively controlled surface was also considered and it was found that this parameter has a very substantial influence.
Vibration reduction in helicopter rotors using an active control surface located on the blade
Schwingungsminderung in Hubschrauberrotoren mittels einer aktiven Regelungsfläche auf dem Flügelblatt
AIAA/ASME/ASCE/AHS/ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics and Materials Conference, 33 ; 4 , Apr ; 1975-1988
1992
14 Seiten, 14 Bilder, 1 Tabelle, 30 Quellen
Conference paper
English