Unified Approach for Accurate and Efficient Modeling of Composite Rotor Blade Dynamics The Alexander A. Nikolsky Honorary Lecture

Abstract

Herein is described the development of a unified approach, which spans several decades and facilitates accurate and efficient modeling of composite helicopter rotor blades for loads, dynamics, aeroelasticity, and stress recovery. The approach achieves accuracy comparable to that of three-dimensional finite element analysis but with significant savings in computational effort. The basis for this approach is a mathematical technique called the variational asymptotic method. This paper summarizes the modeling approach and presents some of the key equations of the resulting analyses. Examples are presented that illustrate the accuracy and efficiency of the approach as implemented in the computer application Variational Asymptotic Beam Section (VABS) and appropriate beam equations, along with ample citations to published works in which these analyses are developed and/or used.