Advanced Composite Rotor Hub Preliminary Design

Abstract

The design requirements for a UH-60A (BLACK HAWK) main rotor hub are presented. A series of six composite hub configurations were evaluated. The evaluation included a comparison to the design requirements as well as additional goals such as reduced weight, cost, radar cross section, use of existing rotor head components, etc. The best of these hub concepts was subsequently refined and reanalyzed. The results of this study indicated the following: (1) A composite rotor hub can reduce the weight of an equivalent metal hub by up to 15%, (2) The production and acquisition costs of a composite hub are 20% less than its metal counterpart, (3) The life-cycle cost analysis indicated that $690K could be saved if the hub were in production by January 1983. The life-cycle cost savings are significantly affected by the 'introduction time', and a 6-month delay would negate the cost savings, and (4) For other benefits, such as an alternate source in case of a shortage of titanium, or to generate limited, in-service, maintenance and repair data on a composite hub, a continued effort was recommended.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 1980
Accession Number
ADA081951

Entities

People

  • Elliot F. Olster

Organizations

  • United Technologies Corporation

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aircrafts
  • Airframes
  • Assembly
  • Composite Materials
  • Cost Estimates
  • Failure Mode And Effect Analysis
  • Fasteners
  • Foreign Object Damage
  • Geometry
  • Laminates
  • Manufacturing
  • Material Degradation Processes
  • Materials
  • Materials Processing
  • Materials Science
  • Rods
  • Test And Evaluation

Readers

  • Aerodynamics.
  • Life Cycle Cost Analysis
  • Reinforced Composite Materials