Browse Topic: Wind tunnel tests
The current effort presents novel investigations of rotor-wake–surface interactions for the Dragonfly lander, NASA's rotorcraft lander to explore Titan. The numerical framework couples unsteady RANS with blade-element and virtual disk rotor models and a coupled Lagrangian particle tracking method to examine rotor–ground interactions and brownout. Simulations span a range of complexity, from isolated rotor benchmarks and rotor pairs to full eight-rotor configurations without a fuselage and the eight-rotor configuration with a simplified Dragonfly fuselage. To quantify model fidelity and near-ground shear, blade-resolved simulations of the isolated rotor are performed using Spalart–Allmaras and Reynolds Stress turbulence models with vorticity confinement, demonstrating that virtual blade models under-predict tip-vortex strength and local inflow distortion but reproduce wall shear reasonably well, whereas blade-resolved RSM solutions yield higher peak shear levels relevant to brownout prediction. These findings improve understanding of planetary rotorcraft aeromechanics and sediment transport in ground-effect while supporting ongoing efforts to assess environmental risks for Dragonfly operations and inform multi-rotor VTOL design for terrestrial applications.
The paper discusses the design and high-fidelity flight dynamics modeling of a 13-lb lift-plus-cruise unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) using Rotorcraft Comprehensive Analysis System (RCAS) in order to (1) better understand its physics of flight during a wide range of maneuvers, and (2) provide insight into the fidelity needed to achieve quantitative accuracy when compared to flight test data. Wind tunnel tests of the full aircraft were performed at a 65% scale to provide lookup tables for the flight dynamics model. Flight test data was collected while providing high control inputs to excite a variety of dynamic states in hovering and cruising modes to systematically validate the physics model. Near quantitative agreement was observed between the model predictions and test data during hover; however, the predictions began to disagree at higher forward cruising speeds. To address the discrepancy between the prediction and experiment, the flight dynamics model was improved by learning a correction from flight test data using a neural network. This hybrid physics plus data-driven approach reduced the error between the physics model and experiment by 74% and only needing 12 minutes of flight data for training. This hybrid methodology presents an alternate approach to high fidelity modeling which only needs a relatively small amount of flight test data.
Large-Eddy Simulations of a boundary layer over a rotor blade are performed with and without inclusion of the rotational sources in the code. The numerical setup matches the one of a wind tunnel test available in the literature, and the numerical results are compared to each other and to the experiment. The mean boundary layers obtained from the simulations are studied by means of the linear stability analysis techniques with the aim of reproducing the transition location. It is shown that the non-rotating scenario, even when performed for the matching Mach and Reynolds numbers, predicts the transition location that is much farther downstream than the one seen in the experiment. However, inclusion of the rotational sources in the code moves the transition forward to the location that better agrees with the experiment. This shows that non-inertial forces associated with rotation play a crucial role in the transition in the considered setup. The character of the transition is different in two scenarios, being dominated by the Tollmien-Schlichting waves in the non-rotating case and by the travelling crossflow vortices in the presence of a laminar separation bubble in the rotating case. The linear stability analysis can reproduce the transition location in both cases, although the rotating scenario demonstrates noticeably lower amplification factors.
A 4.75-ft diameter hingeless hub proprotor model was wind tunnel tested up to the very high speeds of 205 knots, loosely corresponding to 480 knots full-scale, with parametric variations in blades, wing spar, and pylon center of gravity. Testing revealed that a gimballed-hub configuration that reached whirl flutter at 160 knots was completely stabilized when converted to a hingeless hub – using identical blades, span, and pylon. While the gimballed-hub model encountered whirl flutter at 160 knots, the hingeless-hub configuration remained stable throughout the entire test envelope up to 205 knots. The key conclusions are that a hingeless hub can eliminate whirl flutter, and that the most stable configuration is a swept-tip blade hingeless-hub rotor with the pylon center of gravity aft of the wing spar.
The Rotor Blown Wing (RBW) is a tailsitter Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) configuration that leverages cutting-edge autonomous flight controls through Sikorsky's MATRIX™ technology to create a highly capable, efficient, and scalable technology platform. By combining the benefits of fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft, the RBW configuration eliminates the need for traditional UAS launch and recovery infrastructure. This paper describes the RBW-5 prototype, a 100-pound, dual 5-foot diameter proprotor demonstrator, and discusses the comprehensive evaluation of its design and operability through a combination of flight tests, wind tunnel experiments, and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. The results demonstrate the maturity of the UAS and highlights key accomplishments of the RBW-5 program, including successful autonomous takeoff and landing and transitions between hover and forward flight, the extraction of critical "blown-physics" underlying RBW aerodynamics, and the validation of CFD models against unpowered and powered wind tunnel data.
With recent advancements in the field of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), including Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL), Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS), and Unmanned Aerial System (UAS), it is beneficial to understand the impact of complex flow features on operations in urban and shipboard environments. Testing methods for studying these impacts, including simulated environments such as wind-tunnel flows and engineered equivalence tests, will need to be adapted to prepare for when the vehicles of interest are too large for the available testing facilities, and to permit low-cost alternatives for industry and government. This work demonstrates a development process that can be used to ensure the complex-flow-environment phenomena can be studied. First, this work illustrates the development of downdraft and turbulence flow types in a wind tunnel setting, and assesses the response of an M600 RPAS to these flows. Then, the same parameters are compared for a Mission Task Element (MTE) that was designed to challenge the RPAS in the vertical direction. Comparison of the two data sets provides insight into both the behaviour of RPAS in complex flows and the challenges of developing engineered equivalence tests.
This paper discusses the development of a quantitatively-accurate non-linear hybrid flight dynamics model of a hover-capable Air-Launched Tailsitter Unmanned Aerial System (ALUAS) in order to 1) understand its dynamics during complicated maneuvers, and 2) provide a high-fidelity framework to develop novel control laws. Wind tunnel tests were conducted on a 1:1 scale model of the full aircraft to measure the airloads, which were used in the simulation as a lookup table. Flight tests of the ALUAS were performed in hover, transition, and cruise to collect a large amount of unique state measurements by providing large excitations to induce highly transient motion. The flight dynamics predictions using Rotorcraft Comprehensive Analysis System (RCAS) software were then compared with experimental flight test data. To correct any discrepancies in the RCAS physics-based predictions, a correction was learned from the experimental measurements, making use of the large amount of collected flight test data. Using a neural network to learn this correction, the end result was a quantitatively accurate neural network assisted flight dynamics model. The accuracy of current simulations in complex flight states successfully demonstrates the applicability of the proposed methodology for correcting the dynamics model of novel out-of-the-box aircraft configurations.
This study characterizes the dynamics of a novel lag-pitch-coupled underactuated rotor design that can be incorporated into rotary-wing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to provide pitch and roll control with effectiveness comparable to that of a conventional swashplate albeit with significantly lower mechanical complexity and weight. The concept integrates a single lag hinge tilted at a 45-degree angle located at the center of the rotor hub with independent flap hinges for each of the two blades. This idea relies on the ability to cyclically vary the angular velocity of the rotor in a 1/rev fashion via motor torque modulation, which induces a cyclic lag resulting in a cyclic pitch variation due to the tilted lag hinge (lag-pitch coupling) and causes the tip path plane (TPP) to tilt in a desired direction for pitch and roll control. To understand this concept, simulations using the Rotorcraft Comprehensive Analysis System (RCAS) were performed to capture the 1/rev response in lag, pitch, flap and moments under steady flight conditions. The predictions were validated using hover and wind tunnel experiments. The results show that the maximum lag and pitch response are delayed by 180° relative to the maximum input torque. Additionally, Blade-1 and Blade-2 have different flap responses, which lag the peak pitch response by phase delays of approximately 15° and 40°, respectively. Wind tunnel data indicated an inherent coupling between pitch and roll moments as a function of the advance ratio. Finally, a single main rotor helicopter UAV was built and flight-tested to demonstrate the effectiveness of the concept in both hover and high-speed forward flight.
Wind tunnel tests and comprehensive rotorcraft analysis were carried out on a slowed main rotor full-wing lift and thrust-compounded helicopter with a trailing propeller to investigate the effects of rotor and wing configuration on performance, blade structural loads, and hub vibratory loads. Experiments were conducted at advance ratios up to 0.7, incorporating three full-wing configurations with symmetric and asymmetric incidence angles and three different rotor shaft tilt angles. Propulsive thrust was measured by a trailing pusher propeller with its own balance system. The wind tunnel test data was used to validate the University of Maryland Advanced Rotorcraft Code (UMARC). Results showed that the maximum lift-to-drag ratio is achieved using either of the symmetric or asymmetric full-wing lift-compound configurations with high lift offloading and aft shaft tilt. Both blade structural loads and hub vibratory loads are significantly reduced when rotor lift is offloaded to the wings. Lift compounding enables efficient high-speed flight, with a high lift-to-drag ratio of 7.5 maintained at an advance ratio of 0.7. Lift and thrust-compounded rotorcraft propulsive trim was achieved up to an advance ratio of 0.5, demonstrating that efficient high-speed flight, with peak lift-to-drag ratios exceeding 4.5, is enabled through lift offloading.
This paper details the development of a tailsitter unmanned aerial system (UAS) that has the potential to be airlaunched in the near future. By simultaneously integrating air-launch capability with both rotary-wing vertical flight and fixed-wing horizontal flight, the vehicle can be rapidly deployed, perform hovering flight, and achieve high-speed and efficient cruising flight. The aircraft prototype has a mass of 1 kg (2.2 lbs) with wings that can fold to allow the aircraft to fit inside a 6-inch launch tube. A coaxial propeller with vectored thrust is used for control in vertical flight, and a unique avian-inspired wing-folding mechanism is used for stowing and deploying the wings. The aerodynamic design was characterized through a series of wind tunnel experiments, propeller tests, and flight dynamics simulations. High-fidelity simulations of vehicle dynamics validated its air-launch capability and flight tests performed with the prototype demonstrated the ability of the aircraft to perform hovering, transitioning, and fixed-wing cruising flight. To date, this aircraft has achieved speeds of up to 130 km/hr (81 mph), and range up to 10 km (6.2 miles).
Generating multiple high-quality sets of rotor performance data is necessary to validate Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) aircraft performance prediction codes across a broad range of vehicle configurations. Many aircraft companies are actively pursuing multirotor vehicle configurations, which has created a need for validation data for multirotor systems. The NASA Multirotor Test Bed was designed to accommodate a broad range of reconfigurable multirotor systems and to measure rotor performance and loads in a wind tunnel environment. This paper presents results from the second wind tunnel entry of the test bed, which was completed in August 2022. This wind tunnel test focused on a quadrotor configuration, with variations in rotor placement, blade number, and rotor phasing, across a range of wind tunnel test conditions. This paper describes the test methods and provides and discusses a sample of the quasi-steady and dynamic loads data that were collected during the test program.
The paper presents a general framework for building an aeromechanic model in FLIGHTLAB, suitable for high fidelity, pilot-in-the-loop simulator. The focus is on aerodynamic modeling of AW609 tiltrotor in Airplane Mode flight regime. The framework can be extended to helicopter and conversion modes with additional considerations for rotors-airframe aerodynamic interference. It can also be adapted to different tiltrotor geometries, with some adjustments depending on their peculiarities. The model uses Blade Element Theory loads evaluation of lifting surfaces, corrected with tabulated distributed loads to tune FLIGHTLAB predictions against high-fidelity aerodynamic references. Bluff bodies are modeled using force and moment tabulated data. Verification was conducted against reference data in wind tunnel mode and against flight data in trim analysis. The proposed method allowed to match lift distribution on slender bodies, as well as lift and drag integral loads, with aerodynamic references. Trim analysis has shown satisfying accordance with experimental data for all the comparison parameters. However, rotor aerodynamic modeling is still being investigated to improve correlations in torque prediction. Additionally, installation effects, such as those related to the interaction between the wing and fuselage with the rotors, are under examination to address biases in flap motion evaluation.
An extensive test campaign was conducted at the National Full-Scale Aerodynamics Complex 40- by- 80-Foot wind tunnel to acquire performance, loads, and acoustics measurements of the Joby Aviation propeller across a variety of operating conditions. The dataset provided validation of the design methodology as well as verification of computational tools. The Vold-Kalman filter was used to extract the shaft-coherent propeller noise in hover to obtain the residual noise, representing the broadband noise. This data verified broadband noise tip speed scaling laws as well as a low-order empirical model for overall sound pressure level. The OVERFLOW/PSU-WOPWOP method was used to simulate the propeller in pure edgewise flight and shown to accurately predict propeller performance. The low-frequency acoustics were predicted well but the solver underpredicted frequencies above 300 Hz, possibly due to the inability to capture the turbulent component of the blade-wake and blade-vortex interaction. The computational method was used to simulate the propeller at various angles of attack in low-speed edgewise flight and captured trends and spectral content up to 1 kHz. The predictions showed noise sources moving from root to tip as the propeller angle of attack increased. However, the high-frequency content was not captured for all cases. The experimental campaign was successful in characterizing the acoustics of the Joby Aviation propeller, but more research is needed to be able to properly predict and understand the noise sources throughout the flight envelope.
The NASA Revolutionary Vertical Lift Technology project aims to support and guide the development of vertical flight vehicles for the benefit of the U.S. rotorcraft community and to increase the quality of life of the public. As part of this effort, the Multirotor Test Bed (MTB) – designed and built by NASA – has been tested twice at the U.S. Army 7- by 10-Foot Wind Tunnel at NASA Ames Research Center in 2019 (MTB1) and 2022 (MTB2). This study utilizes MTB2 experimental data for sensitivity studies on rotor aerodynamic performance of a quadrotor configuration using two mid-fidelity tools, the Comprehensive Hierarchical Aeromechanics Rotorcraft Model (CHARM) as well as Blade Element Theory based disk modeling in the OVERFLOW CFD solver. Additionally, this study leverages analyzing computational rotor performance predictions with experimental data to help identify future test configurations for the upcoming MTB3 test in the National Full-Scale Aerodynamics Complex 40- by 80-Foot Wind Tunnel.
Preparation for Powered Flight (PPF) is a critical phase for Dragonfly, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) mission to Saturn’s moon Titan. During PPF the descending Lander is lowered below the Backshell and uses its rotors to remove or “despin” any residual yaw motion of the vehicle. A 1/2-scale model of the Dragonfly PPF configuration was tested in the National Full-Scale Aerodynamics Complex (NFAC) 80 by 120-foot wind tunnel to measure aerodynamic loads and surface pressures on the Lander and Backshell. The results were used to improve understanding of the complex aerodynamic interactions and provide validation data for the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations used to develop the aerodynamic databases for full-scale, Titan conditions. Configurations tested in the wind tunnel included Lander-alone-no-rotors (L), Lander-alone-with-rotors (LR), and Lander-with-Rotors-and-Backshell (LRB). Both LR and LRB configurations were tested at multiple descent velocities and pitch and roll attitudes. The eight powered rotors were operated in nine combinations of active and inactive rotors, using steps of increasing RPM from idle to maximum. The results were used to identify conditions that generated the desired yaw moment for despin as well as those that generated reduced or opposite sign moment. In parallel, CFD simulations applied the STAR-CCM+ toolset to the experimental geometry. Time-averaged virtual disks represented the rotors by adding spatially varying axial and rotational momentum to the flow. There was generally good agreement between experiment and CFD, but conditions having strong interactions between the rotors, Lander, and Backshell were found to be improved by use of more sophisticated time accurate and discrete blade models. The lessons from the experiment are being applied to the CFD for the full-scale Lander under Titan conditions.
To validate simulation work towards the design of the Dragonfly rotorcraft lander, a process of extracting a modal model from impact test data is described in this paper. Through a curve-fitting process using Siemens Testlab software, modal frequencies, damping, and mode shapes are extracted and mass-normalized to be imported as a modal model into the Rotorcraft Comprehensive Analysis System (RCAS) to represent the dynamics of the underlying structure more accurately. Wind tunnel conditions were simulated to compare to hub loads measured during wind tunnel testing. An initial comparison of RCAS with VVPM inflow and RCAS coupled with HELIOS show similar hub loads but also show the importance of modeling the rotational degrees of freedom of the structure properly. Additional modeling comparisons between modeling the hubs and the load cell locations further illustrate that by capturing rotational mode shapes based on test data, in-plane hub loads are predicted more accurately.
A 1/5th scale powered coaxial rotor and propeller system has been developed and tested in the National Full Scale Aerodynamic Complex (NFAC) 40x80 ft Wind Tunnel. Test conditions include airspeeds in excess of 250 kts, the highest recorded for a rotor in edgewise flight at the NFAC. The system was studied in four configurations: a powered coaxial rotor, a powered coaxial rotor with a propeller wake rake, a powered coaxial rotor with a powered propeller, and a bare hub rotor with a propeller wake rake. The high-quality data from the test included propeller, fuselage and main-rotor performance; aerodynamic-interactions between the rotors, fuselage, empennage, and propeller; acoustics and handling-qualities attributes. These results have been used to validate physics-based rotorcraft modeling tools and enhance the quality of full-scale X2 Technology® aircraft designs. Innovative solutions to test measurement challenges included rotor shaft strain gages, balance thermal control systems, and a dual arm rotating rake to measure inflow at the propeller plane. Main rotor hub and blade system performance trends are presented as functions of speed, thrust, and body attitude. Time-averaged and unsteady pressure measurements on the fuselage, empennage, and propulsor plane characterized the interactions between the fuselage, rotor hubs and blades, empennage, and propeller over a wide range of operating conditions.
This paper describes the design, development, and testing of a full-scale eVTOL propulsor optimized for quiet and efficient operation. To design the propulsor, a design tool was developed for predicting the aerodynamic and acoustic performance of eVTOL propellers and rotors. The design tool consists of an aerodynamic prediction code, AMP (Aerodynamic Modeling of Propulsor), and an acoustics prediction code, OpenCOPTER, coupled with an acoustics propogator, PSU-WOPWOP, which can receive inputs from either an acoustic solver or high-fidelity CFD. The tool was used to design a coaxial eVTOL propulsor, and both subscale and full-scale blades were manufactured. The aerodynamic and acoustic performance of the subscale propulsor was tested in hover and edgewise flight in an anechoic wind tunnel. A custom test stand was developed and used to measure the aerodynamic and acoustic performance of the 8-ft diameter full-scale propeller in hover. The experimental results were used to validate the design tool.
Turbulence conditions at hospital heliports in the built environment are routinely assessed at the design stage through experimental, physical testing in boundary layer wind tunnels. Wind tunnel testing is the gold standard to evaluate wind conditions on and around buildings where human safety is of the upmost concern. Numerical techniques, such as computation fluid dynamics (CFD) are continuously improving and may offer a viable alternative to wind tunnel testing in some cases. Within the CFD toolbox, there are several techniques to simulate a flow field in an urban or suburban context. These techniques have advantages and disadvantages in terms of ease of use, efficiency, costs, level of fidelity, and reliability. This paper compares high-fidelity CFD tools to wind tunnel testing for two vertiport case studies in different urban settings with different wind climates. The results of this research inform the selection of the right tool to support vertiport design and operations and to protect public safety.
This paper presents an overview of the results from the second wind-tunnel test of the TiltRotor Aeroelastic Stability Testbed (TRAST). The objective of this test was to obtain experimental data for understanding the effects of tiltrotor parameters on whirl flutter and analysis-validation data for the prediction of whirl flutter across a range of system configurations. Frequency and damping were measured at multiple rotor speeds for pitch-flap-coupling angles ranging from -0°to -30°. In addition, measurements were made for changes in blade stiffness, air density and wing-pylon connection stiffness. The paper also presents the results from supporting measurements that may aid analysis validation, such as wing-only damping, rotor frequencies and non-spinning modal frequencies.
This paper investigates the amplitude-dependent characteristics of the TiltRotor Aeroelastic Stability Testbed. The recovery rate, MultiProny, and Stockwell transform methods are employed to measure nonlinear effects in the system, overcoming the limitations of conventional methods like logarithmic decrement, moving-block analysis, and Prony series that assume linear (amplitude-independent) behavior. The proposed methods reveal amplitude-dependent trends that conventional methods obfuscate, providing deeper insights into tiltrotor dynamics. A comprehensive study of ground vibration and wind tunnel test data highlights reduced local damping and frequency at larger response amplitudes for various blade materials, rotor speeds, and pitch-flap coupling parameters. This study offers novel analysis capabilities to support design and advances the understanding of tiltrotor nonlinear dynamics.
Current paper summarizes a correlation study of two flow solvers (CREATETE-AV Helios and Simcenter STAR-CCM+), routinely used at Sikorsky, with multiple model-scale wind-tunnel tests. The Helios modeling approach was aiming for a high-fidelity accurate simulation, whereas the STAR-CCM+ modeling approach was aiming for a fast turn-around time with reasonable solution accuracy with a relatively coarse mesh and simplifications. The two solvers generally agreed well with the test data within reasonable accuracy and captured the airloads and flowfield trends. The calculations presented herein show the impact of the turbulence model on component loads, the aerodynamic interactions among components, and the effect of transition modeling on rotor performance. The Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes CFD model generally delayed separation and resulted in lower drag. By modeling the airframe supporting structure in CFD simulations, an improvement on correlation for inflow on the propeller plane was shown. Additionally, improvements in the rotor system L/De correlation were realized by including a turbulence-transition model, which reduces the rotor drag.
Large eddy simulations (LES) of the Joby Aviation S4 propeller at the NFAC tunnel are performed with a GPUaccelerated low-Mach (Helmholtz) solver, and compared with experimental data provided by Joby at two flow conditions of hover and pure edgewise flow of 10 m/s. Accurate prediction of the laminar-turbulent transition was seen to be critical to the prediction of the noise sources for hover condition, with additional prominent noise sources found to be near the trailing edge and tip of the propeller. The dominant edgewise noise sources were seen to be from the dynamic outboard flow separation and reattachment from advancing to retreating side of the blade azimuth as well as the convective amplification of the acoustic waves from the 10 m/s flow. The far-field noise at the target set of microphone locations are predicted using the frequency-domain Ffowcs Williams-Hawking (FW-H) formulation. The A-weighted 1/3rd octave band results showed a good prediction of the noise compared with the experiments.
This study investigates Reynolds number effects on rotor wake vortex development using a hyperbaric rotor facility capable of pressurizing air up to 100 bar. Background-oriented schlieren (BOS) and hot-wire anemometry (HWA) were applied to characterize vortex trajectories, core growth, and circumferential velocity distribution. BOS measurements revealed consistent blade-to-blade trajectory deviations and vortex pairing across all operating conditions, despite that the investigated three-bladed rotor was milled from a single piece of aluminum, ensuring precise manufacturing and a highly symmetric geometry. A statistical scheme was developed to analyze the radial structure of fluctuating tip vortices, which traverse the pointwise fiber-film sensor in a fixed position. With increasing vortex Reynolds number, the tip vortices are more compact with a reduction in core growth. The circulation in the vortices grows with the vortex radial coordinate, and converges at a radial position basically independent of the vortex core size. Observed asymmetries in young vortices at low Reynolds numbers indicate enhanced roll-up dynamics. The results demonstrate the facility’s ability to isolate Reynolds number effects in rotor wake dynamics.
The UH-60A slowed rotor test campaign carried out at the 40- by 80-Foot Wind Tunnel at the U.S. Air Force's National Full-Scale Aerodynamics Complex (NFAC) provided valuable information of a classical helicopter rotor blades operating at very high advance ratios. This paper aims to show the correlation of the RCAS and HOST comprehensive analysis (CA) tools with respect to several experimental campaign cases. Particularly the influence of the rotor aerodynamic performance as a function of the advance ratio and the collective angle is studied. The influence of the shank drag modeling is observed and its importance to obtain accurate results is highlighted. The RCAS and HOST simulations are capable of reproducing the rotor performance trends observed in the test campaign. Furthermore, the correlation of RCAS and HOST with respect to the measured rotor loads data is studied for the advance rations of 0.4, 0.5 and 0.7 at iso-thrust coefficient conditions. The aerodynamic loads and the structural loads are analyzed by means of the sectional loads analysis and polar maps. Finally some conclusions are provided highlighting the correlation of the RCAS and HOST results as well as the impact of the advance ratio on the behavior of the blades.
The subject of this paper is the conceptual development of two new configurations for HEMS Operations as a new fleet concept for the European theater. Previous studies showed an increase of the required flight range for an emergency patient transport. But in conjunction with an average share of less than 30% of the flights actually with the patient. In the most rescue missions an emergency physician is transported to the scene, the patients further transport is conducted on-road by an ambulance. Considering an improved flight performance, the first DLR design study revealed a growth of the maximum take-off mass of the primary rescue helicopter of 32%. That makes the rescue helicopter inefficient for the transport of only the emergency physician. Consequently, if an ambulance is already at the scene, an emergency doctor shuttle is the sensible approach. The requirements for such a configuration are developed from a feasibility study lead by the ADAC Air Rescue (ADAC Luftrettung), considering the design of a progressive multirotor configuration. This paper presents the state of the design process for both rescue configurations. This includes the definition of the external configuration, cabin design, propulsion architecture, aerodynamics, flight performance, wind tunnel test, and structural considerations.
A wind tunnel investigation to characterise the aerodynamic performance and aeroelastic response of a tiltrotor blade set operating in propeller mode is presented. A custom blade set was instrumented with fully bridged axial strain gauges to monitor the flap bending and torsional strain at several radial locations. Propeller thrust and torque measurements were acquired using a custom six component Rotating Shaft Balance. Measurements of blade tip deflection were obtained via stereoscopic Digital Image Correlation. Testing was performed at a range of rotational frequencies, blade pitch angles and advance ratios to assess the blade aerodynamic performance and aeroelastic response in both attached and stalled operating conditions. Strain measurements were shown to identify stall and blade eigenmode frequencies, where flap bending bridges show a more reliable capture of stalled flow than torsional bridges. Furthermore, blade tip deflection measurements were shown to reduce with increased advance ratio and excessive values of advance ratio resulted in negative thrusting at the blade tip.
This study presents computational analyses of coaxial rotor hub flows and validation against experimental data obtained from the fifth Rotor Hub Flow Prediction Workshop. Experiments were conducted in a 12-inch diameter water tunnel at Pennsylvania State Applied Research Laboratory, employing tomographic particle-image velocimetry (Tomo-PIV) and precise hub drag measurements. Three CFD codes (UMD Mercury, CREATETM-AV Helios, and OVERFLOW) utilizing hybrid Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) / Large Eddy Simulation (LES) modeling based on Spalart–Allmaras turbulence model, were applied to replicate and analyze hub flows. Counter-rotating coaxial rotor hubs under free-air condition was simulated as the simplest case and the hub drags are compared between the three CFD codes. The full water tunnel configuration, consisting of two hubs, a fairing, and shafts, was also simulated and compared to experimental results, with a focus on hub drag, wake velocity fields, and turbulence quantities. Results demonstrated that the computational frameworks effectively captured key flow physics, although some discrepancies in drag harmonics, wake velocity and turbulence intensity magnitudes were observed. Additionally, the study highlighted the impact of rotor hub geometry and installation of sail-fairing on drag and wake structures. These findings contribute to improve computational predictions, essential for designing high-speed rotor hub configurations.
This paper presents the results of an ongoing correlation study performed using three different comprehensive rotorcraft codes and data obtained from the Advanced Testbed for TILtrotor Aeroelastics (ATTILA) tiltrotor whirl flutter wind tunnel test campaign. The ATTILA testbed consists of a 1:5 scale semi-span wing with a powered, tip-mounted proprotor reflecting the proprietary design of the Next Generation Civil TiltRotor (NGCTR). Experimental dynamic characterization of the testbed has revealed non-negligible structural nonlinearities. Post-test efforts have focused on refining the damping trends extracted from the test data, and correlating the experimental results with numerical predictions. The objective of this paper is to assess the modelling fidelity required and afforded by modern comprehensive aeromechanics codes to predict tiltrotor whirl flutter instability given an industry-representative design that exhibits structural nonlinearities. Baseline numerical flutter models fail to predict some of the observed experimental damping behaviour, but the inclusion of higher fidelity aerodynamics and exploratory friction models improves prediction accuracy. Ongoing modelling and dynamic characterization efforts aim to further clarify the mechanisms influencing the whirl flutter stability of the ATTILA testbed and enhance the predictive capabilities of the numerical methods employed.
Generalized Predictive Control (GPC) is an advanced form of an adaptive control algorithm that uses experimentally acquired data to determine the input-output relationship of complex systems through a process called system identification. GPC has historically been employed for stability augmentation and vibration reduction of dynamically-scaled tiltrotor aircraft wind-tunnel models since the complex nature of these dynamic systems does not lend itself well to traditional control approaches. The present research expands upon previous analytical and experimental work with wind-tunnel experiments that utilize improved GPC techniques. These techniques improved controller robustness such that a working controller was stable across a multitude of model configurations and wind-tunnel conditions and successfully suppressed vibration and vehicle flutter. Advanced GPC (AGPC) enables self-adaptation of a traditional GPC control law. AGPC was also investigated during the present research but was not needed as anticipated because of the robustness resulting from improvements made to traditional GPC.
The Joint Tactical Aerial Resupply Vehicle (JTARV) project is supporting the expansion of the Army's unmanned aerial reconnaissance capability by working to obtain high-quality test data that is scarce for group 2 and group 3 UAVs to validate physics-based models. This paper will evaluate the system identification results from transient testing at a wind tunnel speed of 29.2 kts (15 m/s) of the commercial off the shelf T-motor '28x9.2' rotor which is used on the TRV-80 platform, a group 3 UAV. Rotor angles of attack of -90° to 0°, which represent climb to edgewise flight respectively, were tested in the wind tunnel. Chirp Pulse-Width Modulation (PWM) sweep inputs that varied the ΔPWM amplitude by 50, 100, and 150 (approximately 3%, 6%, and 10% of the steady state PWM) were analyzed to derive an electric motor model that can be used in a physics-based simultion. Additionally, it was found that the identified coefficients of thrust and torque were higher in transient condtions versus steady for most angle of attack test condtions. Lastly, the closed loop wind tunnel system, thrust due to ΔPWM amplitude sweep, was compared to the closed loop system of the TRV-80. A similar motor lag frequency was identified in both systems which shows the relevance of the electric motor model and rotor performance data derived from wind tunnel data preseneted herein.
Rotorcrafts frequently operate in environments with severe atmospheric turbulence, for instance transferring people offshore to and from oil rigs as well as operating from and around ships. The presence of high turbulence can deteriorate performance, stability, and controllability of the rotorcraft. Additionally, such challenging conditions also generate loads that both airframe and rotor components must withstand. Following this, it is crucial to consider the impact of these operational atmospheric conditions during rotorcrafts design and development. In this context, numerical models are a fundamental tool to provide an easier and quicker way to explore the operative envelopes of the helicopter compared to performing experimental activities. This paper presents a rotor loads correlation activity between an experimental test designed and carried out by Leonardo Helicopters in which an AW189 helicopter was placed in the wake of a C-27J Spartan aircraft and a multibody structural model built using MSC Adams®. Furthermore, an atmospheric turbulence model is proposed and compared with the wind experimental records with the purpose of defining an analytical tool for the estimation of the wind time histories. The main purpose of the work is to detail the extensive correlation activity and highlight the modeling key ingredients to consider for an accurate load prediction in a turbulent wind environment. The correlation focuses on the effect of the wind during ground operations, considering the rotor at rest or running up/shutting down.
The CH-53K® King Stallion™ is the most advanced heavy lift helicopter developed by Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Company, to address the requirements of the United States Marine Corps. The aircraft was designed to support missions with a maximum design gross weight of 88,000 lbs and can carry external loads up to 36,000 lb. Performance flight tests for the CH-53K® have been completed as part of its System Design and Development (SDD) phase. Tethered hover and level forward flight performance measurements have been acquired that are used as a basis for Naval Air Training and Operating Procedures Standardization (NATOPS) flight manual performance charts. They were also used in the Key Performance Parameter (KPP) verification analysis, demonstrating that the CH-53K® exceeds its KPP for mission effectiveness. In addition to overview descriptions of the performance flight test program, the test results are herein compared with predictions from aircraft performance modeling tools that were largely based on earlier comprehensive model scale hover stand and wind tunnel tests. In some cases, the flight test results dictated that adjustments be made to the aircraft performance prediction tools so they consistently represent the overall vehicle flight performance characteristics. Recent computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations were employed to assist with the overall understanding of the complex aerodynamic flow field in both hover and forward flight. This includes modeling simulations using CREATE-AV™ Helios full-aircraft tool for rotor performance and interactional effects and the Simcenter STAR-CCM+ tool for isolated fuselage drag and fuselage variations. The insights gained from the CFD analysis, such as parasitic drag contributions, main rotor and tail rotor interactions, and other aerodynamics interactions, were used to make appropriate input adjustments to the aircraft performance modeling tools for enhanced correlation to the flight-test results.
A system identification study was conducted on a quadrotor unmanned aerial system (UAS) that was free-flying inside the test section of the Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division's Subsonic Wind Tunnel. Motion capture cameras installed in the wind tunnel provided position feedback information to the aircraft in real time, enabling autonomous flights. Longitudinal, lateral, heave, and yaw axis frequency sweeps were conducted at airspeeds up to 20 knots, in 5 knot increments. The extracted flight dynamics model showed excellent agreement in both the time and frequency domains across all airspeeds. Variation in the aircraft's stability derivatives, power usage, and trim information with airspeed was determined. This paper documents the test procedures, challenges with flying aircraft inside the wind tunnel, the controller model, and the system identification results. This free-flight wind tunnel testing methodology has wide applicability to assist with UAS flight control development, and represents a new opportunity in the way traditional wind tunnels can be utilized for UAS research, development, and testing.
ABSTRACT Interactional aerodynamic interactions between various rotorcraft components can make a large contribution to steady and unsteady loads, performance, and vibration. Wind tunnel results from a powered model test have been analyzed to identify trends in the unsteady aerodynamic pressures on the horizontal stabilizer. Flow velocity measurements were also made behind the fuselage, rotor hub, and blades. Velocity components in all three directions were separated into time-averaged, periodic, and broadband components to identify factors contributing to unsteady tail loads and provide validation data for analysis. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) has been applied to four configurations of the wind tunnel model. The calculated steady rotor and fuselage forces and the unsteady tail pressures have been compared to experiment. CFD has also been applied to a flight test configuration and the results compared to measured stabilizer accelerations. When all relevant components are included, the CFD analysis captures many key features, but there remains room for improvement in resolving the quantitative details.
ABSTRACT An investigation was performed into the effect of positive and negative sweep angle on the boundary layer transition and dynamic stall behaviour of a finite wing. The finite wing had a 6:1 aspect ratio, modern (SPP8) tip shape and positive twist, moving the maximum load on the wing away from the wind tunnel wall. Experiments were performed with sweep A=±30° and A=0° for static polars and sinusoidal pitching. The positively twisted wing shows a similar S-shaped boundary layer transition on the pressure side to that previously seen for helicopter rotor blades in hover. The transition positions on the suction side of the wing are comparable for the same local angle of attack at all values of the sweep L at each of the three pressure sections, and for dynamic pitching motions a hysteresis around the static transition positions is seen. Sweeping the wing led to later stall and higher maximum lift for both static polars and dynamic stall, except for a single case. The negative aerodynamic damping is worse for the swept wing than for the unswept wing, except where the delay of stall led to the flow remaining attached.
This paper presents the preliminary results of the recent whirl flutter wind tunnel test campaign performed within the Advanced Testbed for TILtrotor Aeroelastics (ATTILA) project. The Froude-scale ATTILA testbed consists of a semi-span wing with powered tip-mounted proprotor reflecting the proprietary design of the Next Generation Civil TiltRotor (NGCTR). An overview of the ATTILA testbed, wind tunnel test procedures, team organisation and preliminary flutter results are presented. In line with pre-entry dynamic characterization tests, the wind-on test activities in the DNW Large Low-speed Facility (LLF) revealed notable force-dependent nonlinearity in the modal characteristics of, particularly, the wing torsion mode. Further dimensionality was added by early observations that damping in the rotor gimbal degree of freedom, attributed to stiction in the blade pitch mechanism, had the potential to substantially contribute to the damping of the fundamental wing-pylon modes. Nevertheless, the parallel exploitation of multiple monitoring and online modal estimation methodologies enabled a robust identification and safe test progression. The critical flutter mode was found to be configuration dependent, with the wing chord bending mode generally being marginally stable throughout most of the wind speed range, and the wing torsion mode displaying a sharp trend towards negative damping at higher speeds. Despite technical challenges, valuable test data was gathered to advance the experimental methods and support validation of the numerical tools used to obtained clearance for high-speed flight testing of the full-scale NGCTR Technology Demonstrator.
Full-scale rotorcraft aerodynamics are challenging to study in the field due to the lack of control over ambient conditions as well as the complexity and cost of operating a full-scale vehicle. Small-scale testing can provide significant insight into rotorcraft operation and aerodynamics but is limited by the scale factor between model and prototype. An alternative method for testing rotor performance is presented that utilizes compressed air as the working fluid. By compressing the air, flight-scale aerodynamic conditions can be achieved in hover (Reynolds number, Mach number, and advance ratio matched on small models). In this way, new and unconventional rotor configurations can be tested easily and at low cost before implementing larger prototype tests. An experimental facility at Penn State known as the Compressed Air Wind Tunnel (CAWT) is utilized to examine the scaling of thrust and power coefficient for the NASA Dragonfly rotor geometry in the single rotor configuration. Trends in the hover and axial climb results agree with the Dragonfly data obtained in the NASA Transonic Dynamics Tunnel. Scale effects are clearly present for the power coefficient at the lower tested Re, with scale invariance observed at the larger Reynolds numbers which is inline with prior work on single helicopter rotors. The utility of compressed air testing is demonstrated by the relative ease of achieving many operating Re, including full-scale, on a single model geometry.
A two-phase wind tunnel test was conducted to evaluate aerodynamic performance on a 1/5th scale model of the Sikorsky/Boeing X2™ technology representative aircraft for Future Vertical Lift (FVL). The test program provided valuable aerodynamic data for two important elements of the design: the faired coaxial hub system and the main inlet flow leading to the engine interface. Studies from previous X2™ technology aircraft have shown that hubs, pylons and sail fairings have strong interactions, and if well integrated can lead to low drag aircraft designs. Rotorcraft main inlets generally have aggressive turns; therefore, this inlet design was investigated for distortion and total pressure loss. Accuracy of modeling these aerodynamic interactions using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and other forms of computational aerodynamic assessment requires supporting empirical testing for validation. The two wind tunnel facilities used in Phase 1 and 2 offered different and unique advantages compared to each other, which allowed the Sikorsky/Boeing team to generate a large, complementary aerodynamic and propulsion database for comprehension as well as simulation validation.
This paper describes wind tunnel testing of small remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) to understand better the maximum wind speeds in which they can be safely operated. Urban flow fields can contain complex flow structures such as speed changes, direction changes, shear layers, turbulence and vorticity; all of these can impact the safety of urban RPAS operations. The work described in this paper is part of an ongoing effort to provide Canadian regulators with knowledge to guide safe RPAS operations in urban environments. In the wind tunnel, flow fields representative of urban flows were created using simple flow manipulators like bluff bodies and vanes. The flow manipulators and the resulting flow fields, in relation to representative urban flows, are described in this paper. Wind tunnel testing of a number of RPAS in these representative airflows was conducted to evaluate the sustained wind speed limit at which the vehicle could maintain a stable hover. These tests enabled a step in the understanding of the wind speed limit for various RPAS in different flows. The paper shows a clear impact of turbulence level on the maximum safe operating wind speed of RPAS.
This paper investigates the interactional aerodynamics and acoustics of three pusher propeller configurations from the Aerodynamic and Acoustic Rotorprop Test (AART), which were tested in the National Full-Scale Aerodynamics Complex (NFAC) 40- by 80-Foot Wind Tunnel at NASA Ames Research Center. The three CFD simulation models − isolated propeller, full-wing/propeller, and half-wing/propeller − are simulated using the multi-disciplinary rotorcraft simulation tool CREATE™-AV Helios. Unlike the previous work in which the acoustics were simulated using PSU-WOPWOP, in the current work, acoustic prediction is carried out using NASA's acoustic prediction software AARON/ANOPP2. No significant difference is found between the two acoustic solvers for all configurations. The current isolated propeller and full-wing/propeller simulations, which include the nacelle behind the propeller and the actual hub from the experiment, are compared with the previous simulations that had a notional hub and did not model the nacelle. The current and previous simulations show similar acoustic predictions, except that the presence of the nacelle induces additional high-frequency acoustic pressure oscillations but of small magnitudes. All simulations are also compared with measurements. While the full-wing/propeller simulations match well with the measurements, the isolated propeller and half-wing/propeller simulations show discrepancies. The half-wing/prop simulation overpredicts the overall sound pressure level up to 5 dB, which requires further investigations.
The present study describes the computational methodology adopted to evaluate the aerodynamic characteristics of a shrouded tail rotor. The dependence of the aerodynamic characteristics of a shrouded rotor on the shroud geometry and flight condition deeply affects the accuracy in estimating the thrust sharing of the antitorque system. Experimental testing and numerical investigations have been carried out in the past to characterize the shrouded tail rotor performance and the influence of the variation of the characteristic geometrical parameters. In this study, a modified Virtual Blade Model (VBM) approach has been exploited to model the structure of the flow field produced by the AW09 shrouded tail rotor operating in hover. The proposed modified VBM was tested on the isolated configuration along with the canonical model implementation. By correlation with experimental and numerical data, the introduced modification translated into modeling improvements both in terms of accuracy and stability. Finally, the modified model has been applied to the shrouded configuration by means of RANS and SBES simulations, and again the results are compared with experimental and numerical data. During the analysis different turbulence models were tested. The performance predictions achieved through Virtual Blade Modeling show a close correlation with the ones obtained by adopting a fully resolved blade approach with a significant saving in computational cost.
ABSTRACT A proof of concept test to measure the unsteady boundary layer transition locations on the lower surface of a Machscaled rotor in forward flight was performed during the Summer of 2017 in the NASA Langley 14- by 22-Foot Subsonic Tunnel. The transition locations were measured using high-speed infrared thermography with a rotating mirror assembly that could be remotely actuated to acquire data at several rotor azimuths. Data were acquired for eight unique rotor flight conditions for a range of advance ratios (μ=0:10 : 0:38), thrust coefficients (CT/α =0:04 : 0:12) and rotor shaft angles (αs = -6 deg : 0 deg). This paper presents the transition locations as a function of azimuth and radius for an advance ratio of, μ, of 0.30, and thrust coefficent, CT/α, of 0.08. At this condition, the lower surface is fully laminar on the retreating side and mostly turbulent on the advancing side except near the tip. The tip airfoils were greater than 60 percent laminar on the lower surface advancing side. Capturing the location of natural transition on a rotating blade in forward flight represents a new advancement toward understanding the boundary layer state and its important contribution to rotor aerodynamics. Documentation of the boundary layer transition location during testing is critical to understanding scaling model to full-scale performance data, validation of newly developed turbulence models, and the design of the next generation of high performance rotor blades.
ABSTRACT Slowing down the rotor RPM is a viable method to alleviate the compressibility effect at the advancing side of a rotor in forward flight, which is proved effective in raising the cruise speed limitation of a compound helicopter. A series of wind tunnel tests were conducted in the Glenn L. Martin Wind Tunnel, and some basic understandings were gained on the high advance ratio aerodynamic phenomena, such as thrust reversal and dynamic stall in reverse flow region. In one of the wind tunnel tests, the rotor blades were instrumented with pressure sensors and strain gauges at 30% radius, and enough pressure data was acquired to calculate the integrated sectional airloads. Further, the experimental results of rotor performance, control angles, blade airloads and structural loads were correlated with the predictions of comprehensive analysis as well as CFD/CSD coupled analysis. Furthermore, the paper focuses on the comparison between experimental surface pressure and airload data and the CFD/CSD results for cases with various collective and shaft tilt settings. Overall, the data correlation was found satisfactory for these cases, and this study provided some insights into the aerodynamic mechanisms that affect the rotor airload and performance.
ABSTRACT This paper introduces the Shape Adaptive Blades for Rotorcraft Efficiency (SABRE) Horizon 2020 research program and presents initial comprehensive analysis results on the efficacy of adapting blade shapes as a means of reducing rotorcraft power requirements and emissions. The aims of the research program are introduced, followed by discussion of the six different morphing concepts that will be explored. The morphing mechanisms are based on active camber, chord extension, twist, and active tendon morphing technologies. SABRE will explore the use of these concepts individually and in combination, for rotor quasi-steady configuration-type morphing and up to 2/rev actuation of some of the mechanisms, with the objective being to find the best balance between emissions reductions versus complexity and added weight. Initial investigations into the potential power reductions compared to the baseline full-scale BO-105 main rotor achievable with the morphing concepts were performed using Blade Element Momentum Theory and a comprehensive analysis model that was developed using CAMRAD II. The analytical model was validated by full-scale rotor wind tunnel measurements. A combination of active twist and active chord extension achieved up to 11% performance gain in hover. Active camber morphing performance was very sensitive to the combination of deflection, morphing section radial length and placement on the blade, as well as the actuation phasing and blade loading coefficient. The active camber morphing showed power reductions of up to 5.5% in hover and 5% at an advance ratio of 0.313 with a 2/rev actuation, while the active tendon concept showed the capability to change the dynamic response of the rotor blade.
ABSTRACT A novel application of harmonic wake methods for propellers at incidence have applications for compound helicopters. Any hingeless rotor subject to non-uniform incident velocity will produce a constant force in inertially-fixed axes (i.e., reacted on the non-rotating support) - though this phenomena is well-documented, engineering-level models for prediction of this force are generally poor, and tend to utilise assumptions that have little physical basis. To avoid utilising these assumptions, a harmonic load/wake model is presented that affords the ability to model blade-level unsteadiness without time-marching, includes three-dimensional blade effects, and allows whole-disc load resolution at the same computational cost as the referenced current 'best practice' models. Furthermore, the fundamental equations that convert harmonic blade loads into steady inertially-fixed forces are reviewed, and shown to be missing a large component of the force resolved into inertially-fixed axes. Finally, detail is provided of a current wind tunnel experiment aiming to provide validation for the harmonic wake model.
Stereoscopic particle image velocimtery (PIV) was used to characterize a hovering rotor wake at four collective pitch settings in the world's largest wind tunnel test section. The PIV measurements are a subset of a comprehensive dataset acquired during the hover test of the HVAB rotor. Substantial effort was made to cross-validate PIV results with other test measurements and fluid mechanic theories to ensure accuracy in the reported HVAB dataset. Blade coning and flap bending were validated against early tip vortex locations. Tip vortex trajectory was compared against shadowgraphy results and free-jet boundaries. Tip vortex circulation was evaluated using a line-integral approach and least-squares curve-fit to a vortex model. Downwash velocity was compared against momentum theory values. Best practices were followed to correct inherent tip vortex aperiodicity. PIV-specific challenges were exacerbated by testing in a large facility, such as identifying and removing noisy vector fields caused by inadequate seeding. Towards this end, two new filtering methodologies were developed: (1) Modal Outlier Method (MOM), and (2) Projection on Phaseaverage (POP). Significant reduction in standard deviation was observed when outlier vector fields were removed. Lastly, inverse Betz theory was applied on PIV flow fields to relate trailed wake circulation and the sectional bound circulation. The resulting PIV-based loading distribution was used with lifting-line calculations and Helios simulations to analyze wake evolution. Blade-vortex interaction played a significant role in the airloads distribution that, in turn, affected the strength and evolution of the tip vortices themselves. The similarities and differences found among the PIV-, Helios-, and surface pressure sensor-based airloads were analyzed in detail to help plan future experiments.
Heavy class attack helicopter development program aims to develop a new generation assault helicopter with high weapon capacity and modern combat technologies. Design requirements lead to a complicated aerodynamic shape. Wind tunnel tests gain importance for validation of aerodynamic design decisions and methodologies. A short test campaign is planned in a high Reynolds number environment which is achieved through pressurization. Generation of aerodynamic characteristics, effect of under-wing stores, effectivity of tail surfaces and main rotor hub interactions construct the base of test plan. Tests are conducted under varying pressure and airspeed combinations starting from 1.1 Bar 100 m/s to 3 Bar 85 m/s. Test results are compared with CFD simulations as a part of validation studies. Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes Simulations provide satisfactory results. Improved results are obtained with high fidelity turbulence model, wall modeled very large eddy simulations.
This study examines the acoustics of a wing operating in the wake of a propeller. The propeller wing system is simulated at 24 knots cruise and 8° wing angle of attack. The propeller is simulated using an actuator line model, while the wing is simulated using two different turbulence models: a DDES turbulence model and a higher fidelity LES model. Chordwise compact loads, on-wing pressure surfaces, and pressure surfaces at distances of 2.34% and 10% thickness around the wing surface are used as inputs to PSU-WOPWOP to predict noise at an observer below the wing. Using on-wing surface pressures, the LES broadband noise predictions are 13.5 dB higher than DDES. Chordwise compact loads result in lower noise predictions than on-wing surface pressures, by 11.3 dB for LES and 2.3 dB for DDES. Using off-body pressure surfaces, DDES results remain similar to noise predictions from on-wing pressure surfaces, but with LES the broadband noise predictions are about 2.5 dB lower.
The tiltrotor whirl flutter stability of a gimballed hub and a hingeless hub are investigated using multibody dynamics simulations. A semi-span wind tunnel tiltrotor model are developed using the multibody dynamics code: Dymore. CAMRAD II predictions are used to correlate the Dymore predictions of the baseline tiltrotor characteristics. The rotor structural frequencies of the gimballed tiltrotor and the hingeless tiltrotor are compared between Dymore and CAMRAD II predictions with good agreements. CAMRAD II model of the baseline TRAST gimballed tiltrotor is used for correlating the whirl flutter stability with that of the Dymore model. Overall good agreements are shown for both the frequencies and damping ratios of all three wing modes. The effects of key design variables, such as blade stiffness, rotor RPM, and ƍ3 on tiltrotor whirl flutter stability of both hubs are studied.
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