Advanced-Geometry, Glass-Fiber-Reinforced Plastic Rotor Blade Test Program
Abstract
The blade design used S-glass reinforced epoxy, a mechanically trapped and bonded titanium root end attachment, and aerodynamic contours employing advanced airfoils, thickness taper, and planform taper. Fiberglass tooling was successfully employed, and fabrication and quality assurance techniques were developed for the prototype quantity of 12 rotor blades. Static and fatigue tests were conducted for both rotor blade elements and full-scale structure, and whirl test demonstration was completed without encountering significant problems. Exploratory flight testing was performed on a CH-47C prototype instrumented aircraft used as a 'test-bed'. Structural envelope improvements in gross weight, forward speed, and altitude were demonstrated, due in part to improvement in moment-stall-triggered rotor system response as compared to conventional metal blades. The results have demonstrated the feasibility of using composite materials for primary members in helicopter rotor blades of nonuniform geometric characteristics.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1971
- Accession Number
- AD0738203
Entities
People
- Donald J. Hoffstedt
Organizations
- Boeing Rotorcraft Systems