Fabrication and Testing of High-Speed Single-Rotor and Compound-Rotor Systems
Abstract
The Alfred Gessow Rotorcraft Center has considerable experience in the design, fabrication and testing of rotor models because of its dedicated unparalleled rotorcraft-related experimental facilities. The objective of this grant was to acquire key equipment needed to augment the facilities for precision data acquisition required to generate a comprehensive set of measurements of the blade surface pressures, pitch link loads, hub loads, rotor wakes and performance of high-speed single-rotor and compound-rotor systems to support the development of the next-generation of rotorcraft, such as envisioned in Joint Multi-Role (JMR) rotorcraft program. These data are crucial to validate advanced CFD tools as well as gain improved understanding of the fundamental physics in high advance ratio flight conditions. A variety of Mach-scale rotor configurations were tested on our hover stand and in the Glenn L. Martin wind tunnel, covering a range of flight conditions including full-disk retreating-side reversal. Many of these activities have already taken place and many more are in progress at the University of Maryland under different rotary-wing programs sponsored by Army, and these instrumentation have helped in overcoming some deficiencies in previous precision data acquisition and data processing capabilities. The acquired instrumentations include: precision ultra-thin pressure transducers, miniature load cells, 150-lines slip ring, rotating torque sensors, brushless DC motors and controllers, miniature 6-component transducers, low capacity torque sensor, 3D Printer, miniature milling machine, ETG Eye Tracking System, closed loop digital control valve, data acquisition system and VICON Motion Capturing Cameras. The report outlines some of the key features of the purchased equipment and describes some of the applications where they have been used.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 05, 2016
- Accession Number
- AD1014942
Entities
People
- Inderjit Chopra
Organizations
- University of Maryland