Feasible model-order reduction approach for analysis of composite rotor blades based on geometrically exact beam formulation

Abstract

This paper presents a novel and practical reduced-order model (ROM) approach designed specifically for analyzing composite rotor blades, leveraging the geometrically exact beam formulation. The slender nature of rotor blades necessitates aero-structure coupled analysis to precisely predict their response, which involved numerous iterative computations. By capturing large displacements and rotations, this approach enhances the accuracy of blade behavior predictions under operational conditions. To address the computational demands of large-scale analyses, a ROM technique that effectively reduces system dimensionality while preserving critical structural features is introduced. The proposed method is then applied to the aero-structure interaction analysis of a hingeless hovering rotor trim, incorporating geometrical nonlinearity and centrifugal effects. The analysis results demonstrate that the ROM accurately captures the dynamics of these complex aeroelastic systems while significantly reducing computational costs. This approach exhibits significant potential for various aerospace applications, particularly in the design and analysis of structures undergoing geometrical nonlinear behavior and rotation-induced loads.