Supercritical Behavior Parameter Analysis of Single-piece Composite Drive Shaft for Tail Drive Line Application

The present study aims to investigate the dynamic behavior of composite drive shafts operating in the supercritical rotational speed regime, with a particular focus on the mode crossing and the potential emergence of vibratory instabilities. Composite shafts offer significant advantages in terms of mass reduction and mechanical properties, making them attractive for high-performance transmission systems such as helicopter drive lines. However, their operation beyond the first critical speed raises specific challenges related to stability, damping, and sensitivity to mechanical and operational parameters. To address these issues, an experimental and analytical framework was developed to explore a wide design space involving parameters that are known or suspected to influence supercritical behavior. These parameters include unbalance levels, support characteristics, flexible coupling properties, tightening conditions of the damper, and rotational speed. Particular attention was given to the analysis of the mode crossing phenomenon in composite supercritical shafts, as well as to the identification of the most influential contributors to the vibratory response within the defined experimental perimeter. Harmonic- and subharmonic-based analyses were conducted to assess the relevance of each parameter across different frequency regimes. Overall, the results indicate that, despite the wide parametric exploration, no dynamic instability was observed in the supercritical regime, thereby demonstrating the robust vibratory behavior of composite shafts and supporting their suitability for advanced helicopter transmission applications.