Manufacturing Methods and Technology (MANTECH) Program for a YAH-64 Composite Flexbeam Tail Rotor.
Abstract
The objective of this program was to refine composites manufacturing processes and production design configuration for the composite flexbeam tail rotor (CFTR) for the AH-64 Apache Attack Helicopter. The design features an S-2 glass flexbeam which connects two wet filament-wound Kevlar-49 blades and S-2 glass pitch-cases. Two such blade-pairs are mounted at 90 degrees to the hub with elastometer shear pads that significantly reduce hub loads and provide unique dynamic characteristics. The fabrication effort began with tooling development and two full-scale demonstration assemblies. Based on this experience, the design was further refined and then used in the fabrication of the wind tunnel test article. Full-scale static and fatigue laboratory tests were conducted, as well as numerous design verification tests. The wind tunnel test was successfully completed at the Boeing Vertol wind tunnel, thus demonstrating the aerodynamic stability and performance capability of the CFTR. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1982
- Accession Number
- ADA134277
Entities
People
- R. H. Messinger
- S. Taha