Combined Analytical and Experimental Approaches to Rotor and Dynamic Component Stress Predictions

The accurate prediction of rotor and dynamic component stresses remains an elusive goal. Despite major advancements in computational fluid dynamics techniques, prediction of the unsteady aerodynamic loads acting on the blades continues to be a formidable computational task, and the accuracy of these predictions remains problematic. Techno-Sciences, Inc. (TSi), in collaboration with the Alfred Gessow Rotorcraft Center at the University of Maryland (UMD), proposes to develop an Advanced Rotorcraft Load Prediction (ARLP) tool for rotor and dynamic components that features the combined analytical and experimental approaches. This ARLAS system will exploit the CFD/CSD coupled rotorcraft analytical framework with the experimental measurements (stress, acceleration, loads, etc.) to constantly improve the analytical predictions via an integrated optimization scheme. UMD has enhanced the features of University of Maryland Advanced Rotorcraft Code (UMARC) with CFD/CSD coupled model.