Milestones in Rotorcraft Aeromechanics Wayne Johnson Ames Research Center Moffett Field, California
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https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=20110014589 2019-08-30T16:49:41+00:00Z NASA/TP–2011-215971 Milestones in Rotorcraft Aeromechanics Wayne Johnson Ames Research Center Moffett Field, California May 2011 The NASA STI Program Office . in Profile Since its founding, NASA has been dedicated to the • CONFERENCE PUBLICATION. Collected advancement of aeronautics and space science. The papers from scientific and technical confer‑ NASA Scientific and Technical Information (STI) ences, symposia, seminars, or other meetings Program Office plays a key part in helping NASA sponsored or cosponsored by NASA. maintain this important role. • SPECIAL PUBLICATION. Scientific, technical, The NASA STI Program Office is operated by or historical information from NASA programs, Langley Research Center, the Lead Center for projects, and missions, often concerned with NASA’s scientific and technical information. The subjects having substantial public interest. 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Hanover, MD 21076‑1320 NASA/TP–2011-215971 Milestones in Rotorcraft Aeromechanics Wayne Johnson Ames Research Center Moffett Field, California National Aeronautics and Space Administration Ames Research Center Moffett Field, California 94035‑1000 May 2011 Acknowledgments This report was the basis for the AHS International 2010 Alexander A. Nikolsky Honorary Lecture, presented at the American Helicopter Society 66th Annual Forum, Phoenix, Arizona, May 2010. The assistance of Eduardo Solis, Susan O, Manikandan Ramasamy, Douglas Boyd, Neal Chaderjian, William Warmbrodt, Barry Lakinsmith, Susan Gorton, David Lundy, and Juliet Johnson in preparing the lecture and this paper is much appreciated. Discussions with Richard Bennett, William Bousman, Francis Caradonna, Earl Dowell, Franklin Harris, Dewey Hodges, Robert Loewy, Robert Ormiston, David Peters, Raymond Piziali, Michael Scully, Chee Tung, Berend van der Wall, and Gloria Yamauchi contributed many important details to this history of rotorcraft aeromechanics. Available from: NASA Center for AeroSpace Information National Technical Information Service 7115 Standard Drive 5285 Port Royal Road Hanover, MD 21076‑1320 Springfield, VA 22161 (301) 621‑0390 (703) 487‑4650 TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES .................................................................................................................................................................. iv LIST OF TABLES ................................................................................................................................................................... vi NOMENCLATURE ............................................................................................................................................................... vii SUMMARY .............................................................................................................................................................................. 1 INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................................................................... 1 THE BEGINNING OF AEROMECHANICS ........................................................................................................................... 2 Induced velocity .................................................................................................................................................................... 3 Flapping and hub forces ........................................................................................................................................................ 3 Longitudinal inflow gradient ................................................................................................................................................. 4 Energy losses ......................................................................................................................................................................... 4 Profile power ......................................................................................................................................................................... 4 Rotor lift-to-drag ratio ........................................................................................................................................................... 5 The innovation ....................................................................................................................................................................... 5 The conflict ............................................................................................................................................................................ 6 Inflow curve .......................................................................................................................................................................... 8 Profile power function ........................................................................................................................................................... 8 After Glauert .......................................................................................................................................................................... 9 GROUND RESONANCE ....................................................................................................................................................... 10 AEROMECHANICS BOOKS ................................................................................................................................................ 13 UNSTEADY AERODYNAMICS .......................................................................................................................................... 14 DIGITAL COMPUTERS ........................................................................................................................................................ 17 AIRLOADS AND WAKES .................................................................................................................................................... 17 Miller ................................................................................................................................................................................... 18 Piziali and DuWaldt ............................................................................................................................................................ 20 Parallels ............................................................................................................................................................................... 23 HOVER WAKE GEOMETRY ............................................................................................................................................... 24 LATERAL FLAPPING ........................................................................................................................................................... 27 DYNAMIC INFLOW ............................................................................................................................................................. 28 ROTOR AERODYNAMIC STATE ....................................................................................................................................... 31 BEAM THEORY .................................................................................................................................................................... 33 Houbolt and Brooks ............................................................................................................................................................