Systematic evaluation of the helicopter rotor blades: design variables and interactions

Abstract

Purpose The effects of rotor blade design variables and their mutual interactions on aerodynamic efficiency of helicopters are investigated. The aerodynamic efficiency is defined based on figure of merit (FM) and lift-to-drag responses developed for hover and forward flight, respectively. Design/methodology/approach The approach is to couple a general flight dynamic simulation code, previously validated in the time domain, with design of experiment (DOE) required for the response surface development. DOE includes I-optimality criteria to preselect the data and improve data acquisition process. Desirability approach is also implemented for a better understanding of the optimum rotor blade planform in both hover and forward flight. Findings The resulting system provides a systematic manner to examine the rotor blade design variables and their interactions, thus reducing the time and cost of designing rotor blades. The obtained results show that the blade taper ratio of 0.3, the point of taper initiation of about 0.64 R within a SC1095R8 airfoil satisfy the maximum FM of 0.73 and the maximum lift-to-drag ratio of about 5.5 in hover and forward flight. Practical implications The work shows the practical possibility to implement the proposed optimization process that can be used for the advanced rotor blade design. Originality/value The work presents the rapid and reliable optimization process efficiently used for designing advanced rotor blades in hover and forward flight.