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Vibratory Loads Reduction Testing of the NASA/Army/MIT Active Twist RotorRecent studies have indicated that controlled strain-induced blade twisting can be attained using piezoelectric active fiber composite technology, and that such advancement may provide a mechanism for reduced rotorcraft vibrations and increased rotor performance. In order to validate these findings experimentally, a cooperative effort between the NASA Langley Research Center, the Army Research Laboratory, and the MIT Active Materials and Structures Laboratory has been developed. As a result of this collaboration a four-bladed, aeroelastically-scaled, active-twist model rotor has been designed and fabricated for testing in the heavy gas test medium of the NASA Langley Transonic Dynamics Tunnel. Initial wind tunnel testing has been conducted to assess the impact of active blade twist on both fixed- and rotating-system vibratory loads in forward flight. The active twist control was found to have a pronounced effect on all system loads and was shown to generally offer reductions in fixed-system loads of 60% to 95%, depending upon flight condition, with 1.1 to 1.4 of dynamic blade twist observed. A summary of the systems developed and the vibratory loads reduction results obtained are presented in this paper.
Document ID
20050042035
Acquisition Source
Langley Research Center
Document Type
Preprint (Draft being sent to journal)
Authors
Wilbur, Matthew
(Army Research Lab. Hampton, VA, United States)
Mirick, Paul H.
(Army Research Lab. Hampton, VA, United States)
Yeager, William T., Jr.
(Army Research Lab. Hampton, VA, United States)
Langston, Chester W.
(Army Research Lab. Hampton, VA, United States)
Cesnik, Carlos E. S.
(Massachusetts Inst. of Tech. Cambridge, MA, United States)
Shin, SangJoon
(Massachusetts Inst. of Tech. Cambridge, MA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 22, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2001
Subject Category
Aircraft Design, Testing And Performance
Meeting Information
Meeting: American Helicopter Society 57th Annual Forum
Location: Washington, DC
Country: United States
Start Date: May 9, 2001
End Date: May 11, 2001
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
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