Procedural Guide for Modelling and Analyzing the Flight Characteristics of a Helicopter Design Using Flightlab

Abstract

This thesis presents one method for modelling and analyzing a helicopter design using Flightlab. Flightlab is a computer program that provides for engineering design, analysis and simulation of aircraft using non-linear dynamic modeling techniques. The procedure to model a single main rotor helicopter is outlined using the sample helicopter design in the book 'Helicopter Performance, Stability, and Control' by Ray Prouty. The analysis procedure contains computer program scripts for determining the time response of the helicopter to standard control inputs such as a longitudinal impulse, a lateral step, and a pedal doublet. A linear model of the helicopter can be extracted from the non-linear model, and a comparison of the time response to the control inputs based on these two models is presented. The procedure for conducting frequency sweep testing for the linear model is also discussed. This guide to using Flightlab for aircraft modelling and analysis is designed to make it easier to use Flightlab for creating additional aircraft models for use in control system analysis and additional engineering design.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 23, 1993
Accession Number
ADA275077

Entities

People

  • Gary P. Mcvaney

Organizations

  • Naval Postgraduate School

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aerodynamic Characteristics
  • Aerodynamic Configurations
  • Aircrafts
  • Airframes
  • Computer Programs
  • Computers
  • Control Systems
  • Dynamic Response
  • Helicopter Rotors
  • Horizontal Stabilizers
  • Language
  • Linear Systems
  • Mach Number
  • Nonlinear Dynamics
  • Operating Systems
  • Rotary Wing Aircraft
  • Standards

Readers

  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Computational Modeling and Simulation