Description of a Dynamical Framework to Analyse the Helicopter Tail Rotor

Salvador Castillo-Rivera,Maria Tomas-Rodriguez

doi:10.3390/dynamics1020010

Abstract

In this work, a tail rotor is modelled with the aid of a multibody software to provide an alternative tool in the field of helicopter research. This advanced application captures the complex behaviour of tail rotor dynamics. The model has been built by using VehicleSim software (Version 1.0, Mechanical Simulation Corporation, Ann Arbor, MI, USA) specialized in modelling mechanical systems composed of rigid bodies. The dynamic behaviour and the control action are embedded in the code. Thereby, VehicleSim does not need an external link to another software package. The rotors are articulated, the tail rotor considers flap and feather degrees of freedom for each of the equispaced blades and their dynamic couplings. Details on the model’s implementation are derived, emphasising the modelling aspects that contribute to the coupled dynamics. The obtained results are contrasted with theoretical approaches and these have displayed to agree with the expected behaviour. This rotorcraft model helps to study the performance of a tail rotor under certain dynamic conditions.

Highlights

Helicopters have become an interesting area of study due to their flight capabilities as take-off, landing, flying forward and laterally
Four stages should be considered in the process of helicopter simulation: forces and moments modelling, trim analysis, nonlinear simulation and graphical outcomes interpretation
The purpose of this section is to study the dynamic interactions between the flap and feather degrees of freedom

Summary

Introduction

Helicopters have become an interesting area of study due to their flight capabilities as take-off, landing, flying forward and laterally. In all fields of engineering, a realistic and accurate model of the system should be provided as the first step for any further studies. SIMPACK (SImulation of Multibody systems PACKage) [3], is a general-purpose multibody simulation software used for the dynamic analysis of any mechanical nonlinear systems. It was developed by DLR (German Aerospace Center). It provides an interface with Matlab, which allows for post-processing the results. It has been used in a wide range of studies such as ground resonance effect [4].

Objectives

Results

Conclusion