Helicopter Main Rotor Blade Parametric Design for a Preliminary Aerodynamic Analysis Supported by CFD or Panel Method

Abstract

This work is the preliminary part of a research program which is aimed at finding some new methods and design solutions for helicopter main rotor multidisciplinary optimization. The task was to develop a parametric geometric model of a single-blade main rotor applicable for varied methods of numerical aerodynamic modeling. The general analytical assumptions for the parametric main rotor design were described. The description of the main rotor blade parametric design method based on Open GRIP graphical programming was presented. Then, the parametric model of a blade was used for aerodynamic models independently developed for panel method and advanced CFD solver. The results obtained from the CFD simulations and panel analysis for main rotor aerodynamics were compared and assessed using analytical calculations. The calculations and simulations for a single-blade and completed rotor were performed for different helicopter weights and rotor pitch angles. The results of different computer aerodynamic analysis environments were compared for the possibility of their application in an optimization loop. This is preliminary work that describes only a partial problem that could be used in the future as part of a comprehensive methodology for aerodynamic and structural optimization of a helicopter rotor. As an output of the research, new options for main rotor optimization are developed. The combined parametric modeling with aerodynamic analysis, as described in this paper, provide the preliminary design for a main rotor spiral, as an element of the optimization loop.

Parametrization of the main rotor and working environment for different flight conditions – Computational Fluid Dynamics analysis as an application for multidisciplinary optimization

“…The flow periodic changes, flexibility of blades and conditions of operation in the presence of a strong centrifugal force imply a relationship between pressure loads and deformations of the material. The blades were well parametrized in the previous step of the research (Kocjan et al, 2022), the deformations are going to be considered in the further phases.…”

“…As it was mentioned above, the solutions for the optimization process which are being developed in the mentioned research program, started with evaluating the blade and assessing the methods for further analysis. The preliminary results from the initial stage of investigations were published in (Kocjan et al, 2022). In this research, geometry of the existing rotor was taken as an example for evaluating the proposed solution.…”

Helicopter main rotor FSI analysis using parametric blade model as an application for multidisciplinary optimization

“…The program were preceded with an rotorcraft construction analysis which results were published in [6]. The latter parts included the main rotor CFD analysis using parametric modeling and preparing the blade structure using parametrization, this work were published in [7]. In each phase the parametrization of the model is used because of planned optimization loop.…”

Flow around an Aircraft Model—Comparison between Hydrodynamic Tunnel Tests and Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulations

“…Furthermore, in [3], a CFD simulation was also used to determine the temperature field in an urban area and, in [4], to perform temperature and pressure field estimation in a dry scroll vacuum pump. There are a number of CFD method applications in the field of aerodynamics [5][6][7][8][9]. Paper [5] presents the results of airfoil parameter optimization using machine learning methods in conjunction with CFD simulations.…”

“…The results obtained were compared with published data in the literature. In [9], the CFD method was used for preliminary aerodynamic analysis of a helicopter's main rotor blade.…”