Integrated multidisciplinary optimization of rotorcraft: A plan for development

This paper describes a joint NASA/Army initiative at the Langley Research Center to develop optimization procedures aimed at improving the rotor blade design process by integrating appropriate disciplines and accounting for important interactions among the disciplines. The paper describes the optimization formulation in terms of the objective function, design variables, and constraints. Additionally, some of the analysis aspects are discussed, validation strategies are described, and an initial attempt at defining the interdisciplinary couplings is summarized. At this writing, significant progress has been made, principally in the areas of single discipline optimization. Accomplishments are described in areas of rotor aerodynamic performance optimization for minimum hover horsepower, rotor dynamic optimization for vibration reduction, and rotor structural optimization for minimum weight.