Vacuum and hover tests of a dihedral–anhedral tip composite rotor

Chi, Cheng; Datta, Anubhav; Panda, Brahmananda

Abstract

This paper presents test data from vacuum and hover tests of a 2.8-ft-radius dihedral–anhedral tip composite rotor. The paper describes the blades, their fabrication, properties, instrumentation, the test conditions, and the data acquired. The blades were Mach-scaled to a generic but representative modern rotor. Vacuum chamber tests measured rotating frequencies and strains. Hover tests measured performance, blade loads, pitch-link loads, and strains under steady and cyclic loading conditions. Three-dimensional finite element structural models were developed to ensure completeness and consistency of property definition. The three-dimensional analysis was also used for a preliminary assessment of the test data. The test data revealed that the dihedral–anhedral tip influences the torsional and higher frequencies of a rotor blade significantly. The oscillatory blade loads show patterns consistent with the vertical center-of-gravity offset introduced by the tip. The surface strains reveal interesting higher-harmonic patterns of loading particularly near the dihedral junction.

Citation

Chi, C., Datta, A., & Panda, B. (2023). Vacuum and hover tests of a dihedral–anhedral tip composite rotor. Journal of Aircraft, 60(5), 1700-1711. https://doi.org/10.2514/1.c037321

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Feb 25, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Mar 31, 2023
• Publication Date: Sep 30, 2023
• Deposit Date: Mar 1, 2024
• Journal: Journal of Aircraft
• Print ISSN: 0021-8669
• Electronic ISSN: 1533-3868
• Publisher: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 60
• Issue: 5
• Pages: 1700-1711
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.2514/1.c037321
• Keywords: Aerospace Engineering
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/11753339