Stress Analysis of 27% Scale Model of AH-64 Main Rotor Hub.

Abstract

The Aerostructures Directorate (ASTD), NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA as part of the continuing basic research in support of the Army helicopters, built a dynamically scaled model of the AH-64 helicopter rotor hub (fig. 1). This model rotor system is designed for testing in NASA Langley's 4x7 m low-speed wind tunnel. The model will find continued use in future rotorcraft model testing. Hence, its structural integrity must be assured. This paper documents stress analysis for critical components of the rotor hub. The AH-64 hub is essentially articulated with some rotational stiffness about the lead/lag hinge due to the elastomeric dampers and some centrifugally supported torsional stiffness in the strap pack. The critical components include the pitch case, the upper hub plate, the strap pack, and the lead/lag hinge pin assembly. The analysis includes both static and fatigue considerations. Stress analysis of an AH-64 27% scale model rotor hub was performed. Component loads and stresses were calculated based upon blade root loads and motions. The static and fatigue analysis indicates positive margins of safety in all components checked. Using the format developed here, the hub can be stress checked for future applications. Keywords: stress, model rotor hub.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 01, 1985
Accession Number
ADA164284

Entities

People

  • Robert V. Hodges

Organizations

  • National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Bending Moments
  • Bending Stress
  • Centrifugal Force
  • Fasteners
  • Fatigue Life
  • Finite Element Analysis
  • Helicopter Rotors
  • Helicopters
  • Margin Of Safety
  • Materials
  • Moment Of Inertia
  • Pins
  • Plastic Explosives
  • Safety
  • Scale Models
  • Stress Analysis
  • Stresses

Fields of Study

  • Engineering
  • Physics

Readers

  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Software Engineering
  • Structural Health Monitoring of Composite Structures.