Abstract
Helicopters are known to exhibit higher vibratory levels compared to fixed-wing aircraft. The consequences of vibrations depend on the affected helicopter component or subject. Specifically, pilots are in contact with several parts of the helicopter; vibrations can spoil the pilot-vehicle interaction. To evaluate the effects of vibration exposure on pilots, comfort levels resulting from whole-body vibration are computed. However, specific body parts and organs, e.g., hands, feet, and eyes are also adversely affected, with undesirable effects on piloting quality. Therefore, a detailed assessment is necessary for a more accurate estimation of pilot vibration exposure when comparing different configurations, tracking changes during design, and determining the safety of the flight envelope. A generalized assessment is presented by considering vibrations at the seat surface, hand-grip of controls, eyes, and feet. The suggested vibration measure includes comfort, handling, feet-contact, and vision in a single formulation. It is illustrated by coupling a high-fidelity biodynamic model of the pilot to a helicopter aeroservoelastic model in a comprehensive simulation environment. Using appropriate modeling techniques, vibration exposure of helicopter pilots could be evaluated during all stages of design, to achieve a more comfortable and safer flying environment.
Highlights
In rotorcraft, pilot- and occupant-perceived vibrations are the consequence of timedependent loads acting on the airframe
This section explains the steps that are required to achieve a generalized vibration index for helicopter pilots. Such index considers a combination of four subindices: (i) the comfort vibration index (CVI) that reflects the whole body response of the pilot, (ii) the handling vibration index (HVI) (iii) visual vibration index (VVI), and (iv) foot vibration index (FVI)
The detailed and fully coupled helicopter-pilot model described in the previous sections is used to illustrate the evaluation of the generalized index for vibration exposure of helicopter pilots
Summary
Pilot- and occupant-perceived vibrations are the consequence of timedependent loads acting on the airframe. The resulting time dependent loads excite the cockpit and the cabin and are transmitted to the crew and passengers. Vibrations induce a mechanical response on the human body and may even lead to physiological and psychological reactions when of sufficiently high amplitudes [1]. Helicopter pilots are not an exception; they are more affected by the adverse effects of vibrations than cabin crew and passengers, since they are subjected to a higher workload. Involuntary interactions as a result of vibrations on hand and control sticks can degrade handling qualities [3], which may even induce instability [4]
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