Advanced Rotorcraft Aeromechanics Simulations Using HPCMP CREATE™-AV Helios

The HPCMP CREATE™-AV Helios is a rotorcraft aeromechanics simulation framework that combines higher fidelity Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) based aerodynamic modeling with rotorcraft comprehensive analysis. Vehicles with multiple rotors and differing rotor frequencies require several enhancements to the traditional CFD/CSD coupling approach used for rotorcraft aeromechanics predictions. Additionally, CFD/CSD coupling modifications are also required for non-rotor aerodynamic entities such as fuselages and wings whose aerodynamic loads are influenced by the interference and impingement of multiple rotor wakes. Methodologies for consistently coupling multiple rotors with non-harmonic arbitrary frequencies are developed. The developed technique also allows for variations in rotor frequencies at each CFD/CSD coupling iteration. The methodology is successfully demonstrated to achieve full vehicle trim for the UH-60A with aerodynamic loading on all main wetted surfaces, i.e main-rotor, tail-rotor, fuselage and stabilator wing, predicted using CFD-based modeling. A commercial quadcopter configuration is also studied to demonstrate the ability to achieve full vehicle trim using the rotor frequencies as control variables.