Integrated Multidisciplinary Design Optimization of Rotorcraft

Abstract

This paper describes a joint NASA/Army research activity at the Langley Research Center to develop optimization procedures aimed at improving the rotor blade design process by integrating appropriate disciplines and accounting for important interactions among the disciplines. The activity is being guided by a Steering Committee made up of key NASA and Army researchers and managers. The committee, which has been named IRASC (Integrated Rotorcraft Analysis Steering Committee). has defined two principal foci for the activity: a white paper which sets forth the goals and plans of the effort; and a rotor design project which will validate the basic constituents, as well as the overall design methodology for multidisciplinary optimization. The paper describes the optimization formulation in terms of the objectives function, design variables, and constraints. The analysis aspects are discussed, and an initial attempt at defining the interdisciplinary coupling is summarized. At this writing, some significant progress has been made. Results are given in the paper which represent accomplishments in rotor aerodynamic performance optimization for minimum hover horsepower, rotor structural optimization for vibration reduction, rotor structural optimization for minimum weight, and integrated aerodynamic load/dynamics optimization for minimum vibration and weight.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jul 01, 1989
Accession Number
ADA233514

Entities

People

  • Howard M. Adelman
  • Wayne R. Mantay

Organizations

  • United States Army Aviation and Missile Command

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aerodynamic Characteristics
  • Aerodynamic Configurations
  • Aircrafts
  • Airfoils
  • Airframes
  • Composite Materials
  • Dynamic Response
  • Frequency
  • Helicopter Rotors
  • Laminates
  • Materials
  • Mathematical Programming
  • Resonant Frequency
  • Rotary Wing Aircraft
  • Spars
  • Structural Analysis
  • Vibration

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Operations Research
  • Technical Research and Report Writing.