Skip to main content
Search
Search
Quick Search anywhere
Quick Search fdjslkfh
Advanced search
Cart
Join AIAA Institution Login
Skip main navigationClose Drawer MenuOpen Drawer Menu
Journal of Aircraft logo
No AccessFull-Length Paper

Design, Simulation, and Experimental Results for Flexible Rotors in a Ship Airwake

Published Online:10 Aug 2015https://doi.org/10.2514/1.C033322

Abstract

First, an overview of the design and construction of a 1/12th Froude-scaled flap-articulated rotor system that is immersed in a ship airwake flowfield is presented. Experimental challenges that were identified during and following the use of this system in an experimental study and their impact on the data are discussed. The experimental rotor system is presented as a useful testbed for theories and models of flexible multibody systems with gyrating beams undergoing large deformations. Second, the flap-articulated Froude-scaled experimental rotor system is tested in a scaled ship airwake environment using the National Research Council 2×3  m wind tunnel. Based on experimental and simulation data, conclusions are drawn regarding the influence of the aerodynamic environment and the rotor operation parameters on the rotor blade elastic deflections during the engagement/disengagement phase. It is concluded that the parameters of the engagement/disengagement profile play a minimal role in the occurrence of large elastic deflections, known as the blade sailing phenomenon. Increasing or decreasing the collective pitch setting along with increasing the wind speed and ship deck roll angle is found to amplify the blade sailing phenomenon. Additionally, it is further verified that, compared to an unsteady aerodynamic model, the nonlinear quasi-steady aerodynamic model with Mach number effects on the stall point is sufficient for blade sailing studies; however, the former is shown to be more accurate, particularly at higher wind speeds. The experimental data are also used to successfully validate developed multibody dynamics tools.

References

  • [1] Newman S. J., “The Phenomenon of Helicopter Blade Sailing,” Journal of Aerospace Engineering, Vol. 213, No. 6, 1999, pp. 347–363. doi:https://doi.org/10.1243/0954410991533070 Google Scholar

  • [2] Newman S. J., “The Safety of Shipborne Helicopter Operation,” Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 76, No. 5, 2004, pp. 487–501. doi:https://doi.org/10.1108/00022660410555167 AATEEB CrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • [3] Hao K., Chengjian H. and Carico D., “Modeling and Simulation of Rotor Engagement and Disengagement During Shipboard Operations,” 60th Annual Forum Proceedings: American Helicopter Society, American Helicopter Soc., Fairfax, VA, 2004, pp. 315–324. Google Scholar

  • [4] Wall A. S., “A Discrete Approach to Modelling Helicopter Blade Sailing,” Ph.D. Thesis, Carleton Univ., Dept. of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Ottawa, ON, Canada, 2009. CrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • [5] Khouli F., “Modelling and Attenuation Feasibility of the Aeroelastic Response of Active Helicopter Rotor Systems During The Engagement/Disengagement Phase of Maritime Operation,” Ph.D. Thesis, Carleton Univ., Dept. of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Ottawa, ON, Canada, 2009. CrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • [6] Hurley G. E., Pittman C. W. and Trick L. L., “HH-46E/CV-64 Rotor Engage/Disengage Test Report of Test Results,” Naval Air Test Center TR-RW-55R-84, Patuxent River, MD, 1984. Google Scholar

  • [7] Trick L. L., “H-46/CV Engage/Disengage DI Test,” Naval Air Test Center Tech. Rept., Project Test Plan, Patuxent River, MD, 1983. Google Scholar

  • [8] Newman S. J., “The Verification of a Theoretical Helicopter Rotor Blade Sailing Method by Means of Windtunnel Testing,” Aeronautical Journal, Vol. 99, Feb. 1995, pp. 41–51. Google Scholar

  • [9] Geyer W. P. J., Smith E. C. and Keller J., “Validation and Application of a Transient Aeroelastic Analysis for Shipboard Engage/Disengage Operations,” American Helicopter Society 55th Annual Forum Proceedings, American Helicopter Soc., Fairfax, VA, 1996, pp. 152–167. Google Scholar

  • [10] Keller J. A., “Analysis and Control of the Transient Aeroelastic Response of Rotors During Shipboard Engagement and Disengagement Operations,” Ph.D. Thesis, Pennsylvania State Univ., State College, PA, 2001. Google Scholar

  • [11] Keller J. A. and Smith E. C., “Experimental and Theoretical Correlation of Helicopter Rotor Blade-Droop Stops Impacts,” Journal of Aircraft, Vol. 36, No. 2, 1999, pp. 443–450. doi:https://doi.org/10.2514/2.2450 JAIRAM 0021-8669 LinkGoogle Scholar

  • [12] Khouli F., Wall A. S., Afagh F. F. and Langlois R. G., “Influence of Ship Motion on the Aeroelastic Response of a Froude-Scaled Maritime Rotor System,” Ocean Engineering, Vol. 54, Nov. 2012, pp. 170–181. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oceaneng.2012.06.033 OCENBQ 0029-8018 CrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • [13] Bielawa R. L., Rotary Wing Structural Dynamic and Aeroelasticity, AIAA, Washington, D.C., 1992. Google Scholar

  • [14] Friedmann P., “Aeroelastic Scaling for Rotary-Wing Aircraft with Applications,” Journal of Fluids and Structures, Vol. 19, No. 5, 2004, pp. 635–650. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfluidstructs.2004.03.003 0889-9746 CrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • [15] Hunt G. K., “Similarity Requirements for Aeroelastic Models of Helicopter Rotors,” Aeronautical Research Council TR-CP-1245, London, U.K., 1973. Google Scholar

  • [16] Singelton J. D. and Yeager W. T., “Important Scaling Parameters for Testing Model-Scale Helicopter Rotors,” Journal of Aircraft, Vol. 37, No. 3, 2000, pp. 396–402. doi:https://doi.org/10.2514/2.2639 JAIRAM 0021-8669 LinkGoogle Scholar

  • [17] Selig M., Guglielmo J., Broeren A. and Giguere P., “Summary of Low-Speed Airfoil Data,” Vol. 1, SoarTech Publ., Virginia Beach, VA, 1995, pp. 148–150. Google Scholar

  • [18] Khouli F., Afagh F. F. and Langlois R. G., “Application of the First Order Generalized-α Method to the Solution of an Intrinsic Geometrically Exact Model of Rotor Blade System,” Journal of Computational and Nonlinear Dynamics, Vol. 4, No. 1, 2008, Paper 011006. doi:https://doi.org/10.1115/1.3007972 JCNDDM 1555-1415 CrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • [19] Geyer W. P. J., Smith E. C. and Keller J. A., “Aeroelastic Analysis of Transient Blade Dynamics During Shipboard Engage/Disengage Operations,” Journal of Aircraft, Vol. 35, No. 3, 1998, pp. 445–453. doi:https://doi.org/10.2514/2.2317 JAIRAM 0021-8669 LinkGoogle Scholar

  • [20] Jones M. P. and Newman S. J., “A Method of Reducing Blade Sailing Through the Use of Trailing Edge Flaps,” American Helicopter Society 63rd Annual Forum Proceedings, Vol. 1, American Helicopter Soc., Fairfax, VA, 2007, pp. 411–422. Google Scholar

Previous article
Next article