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Continuous Trailing-Edge Flaps for Primary Flight Control of a Helicopter Main RotorThe use of continuous trailing-edge flaps (CTEFs) for primary flight control of a helicopter main rotor is studied. A practical, optimized bimorph design with Macro-Fiber Composite actuators is developed for CTEF control, and a coupled structures and computational fluid dynamics methodology is used to study the fundamental behavior of an airfoil with CTEFs. These results are used within a comprehensive rotorcraft analysis model to study the control authority requirements of the CTEFs when utilized for primary flight control of a utility class helicopter. A study of the effect of blade root pitch index (RPI) on CTEF control authority is conducted, and the impact of structural and aerodynamic model complexity on the comprehensive analysis results is presented. The results show that primary flight control using CTEFs is promising; however, a more viable option may include the control of blade RPI, as well.
Document ID
20140006537
Acquisition Source
Langley Research Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Thornburgh, Robert P.
(Army Research Lab. Hampton, VA, United States)
Kreshock, Andrew R.
(Army Research Lab. Hampton, VA, United States)
Wilbur, Matthew L.
(Army Research Lab. Hampton, VA, United States)
Sekula, Martin K.
(NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Shen, Jinwei
(National Inst. of Aerospace Hampton, VA, United States)
Date Acquired
June 3, 2014
Publication Date
May 20, 2014
Subject Category
Air Transportation And Safety
Report/Patent Number
NF1676L-17681
Meeting Information
Meeting: American Helicopter Society (AHS) Annual Forum
Location: Montreal
Country: Canada
Start Date: May 20, 2014
End Date: May 22, 2014
Sponsors: American Helicopter Society, Inc.
Funding Number(s)
WBS: WBS 432938.11.01.07.43.40.08
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
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