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Three-dimensional strains on twisted and swept composite rotor blades in vacuum

Chi, Cheng; Datta, Anubhav; Chopra, Inderjit; Chen, Renliang

Authors

Cheng Chi

Anubhav Datta

Inderjit Chopra

Renliang Chen



Abstract

This paper presents an investigation of the effects of tip sweep on highly twisted composite rotor blades by acquiring strain data in vacuum. Three parametric test cases were designed for strain measurements, and predictions from a special three-dimensional (3-D) finite element method were used for assessment of data. A set of rotating aluminum beams was also tested as a rudimentary baseline. Three sets of composite rotors (straight, twisted, and twisted–swept) were fabricated and tested, and blade properties carefully characterized. Prediction of 3-D strains was conducted using X3D, a 3-D multibody structural dynamic solver for rotor aeroelasticity. Comparison with measured strains showed overall satisfactory agreements. Under centrifugal loading, strong 3-D strain patterns were observed near the twisted–swept tip. The largest increase in strain magnitude is found to be caused by the twist. Evidence of strong lead-lag bending concentrations due to counteracting axial extension and localized in-plane shear were found in the twisted–swept tip.

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Oct 1, 2020
Online Publication Date Dec 14, 2020
Publication Date Jan 31, 2021
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 58
Issue 1
Pages 1-16
DOI https://doi.org/10.2514/1.C035746
Public URL https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/11753409