Advanced Rotorcraft Comprehensive Analysis

The focus of this research is to develop an advanced rotorcraft comprehensive analysis tool that will significantly improve the accuracy of the performance, load, vibration, and aeroelastic stability predictions. The product is intended to support new aircraft design and engineering applications. The Rotorcraft Comprehensive Analysis System (RCAS) has been selected for the advancement of the rotorcraft analysis tool. The development will emphasize the improvement of a software environment that enables the easy integration of new functionalities and straightforward interface of external control system and CFD codes. The integration of new nonlinear unsteady dynamic stall airloads and the improvement of vortex wake models along with a multi-load path drivetrain system and a high fidelity turboshaft engine are considered. A graphical user interface (GUI) that will allow users to generate complex rotorcraft configurations, run scenarios, and provide standard output are also included. In Phase I, the functional requirement definition, the theoretical formulations, and the algorithms will be developed to pave the way for full implementation of all the new functionalities. The software infrastructure for the inclusion of new functionalities will be developed and tested. Selected functionalities will be prototyped.