Performance Testing of a Main Rotor System for a Utility Helicopter at 1/4 Scale.
Abstract
Performance measurements on two rotor systems were made for hover and for simulated forward flight in the Langley 4- by 7-Meter Tunnel. The first rotor system, tested as a 'baseline', was a dynamically accurate, 1/4-scale model of the current rotor system on the UH-1 helicopter. The second rotor system, designed for advanced performance with similar dynamics, varied from the baseline system in airfoil cross section, in twist, and in geometric taper of the planform. In hover out of ground effect, the advanced rotor demonstrated a maximum improvement of 10 percent in the figure of merit for an isolated rotor when compared to the baseline rotor. A thrust improvement of about 7 percent was shown for the helicopter (including the fuselage downloading effects) using the advanced rotor in hover out of ground effect, at a torque coefficient equivalent to full power of the full-scale vehicle at significant reductions in torque (power) required throughout the range of advance ratios (speeds) tested. Reductions of up to 17 percent in required torque were measured, with the larger reductions occurring at the higher advance ratios and higher lift values. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 1982
- Accession Number
- ADA113988
Entities
People
- John D. Berry