Helicopter flight dynamics with simulated rainfall

Abstract

Sustaining flight operation that encounters with rainfall might be a challenge to a pilot due to lacking of understanding flight dynamics in the rain conditions. This paper, combined with a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) technique, develops a nonlinear flight dynamics model in the rain conditions that can be capable of exploring UH-60A single-rotor helicopter flight dynamics in the rain conditions, including trim, stability, and controllability. Firstly, in order to obtain a data-driven basis relating to multiple working conditions of the blades, a CFD-based method of simulation of the blade airfoil in the conditions of the angles of attack ranging from −26° to 26° and under a thunderstorm heavy rain scenario when the rate of rainfall is 1500 mm/h is developed. Then, these data are incorporated into a nonlinear flight dynamics model in the form of coefficient increments. Numerical simulations are conducted in the range of the flight velocities from 0 knots to 160 knots. The quantitative results indicate that rainfall degrades the blade airfoil aerodynamic performance and increases the rotor torque and required power, affecting the helicopter trim, stability, and controllability. More importantly, helicopter that flies in a small or moderate flight velocity and that encounters rainfall might be a relative serious case, which should be paid attention to.