Rotorcraft On-Blade Pressure and Strain Measurements Using Wireless Optical Sensor System

Experimental measurements of rotor blades are important for understanding the aerodynamics and dynamics of a rotorcraft. This understanding can help in solving on-blade problems as well as in designing and optimizing the blade profiles for improved aerodynamics and noise attenuation in the next generation rotorcraft. Therefore, a Wireless Optical Pressure/Strain Sensor (WOPSS) system for helicopter on-blade pressure and strain measurement is proposed to utilize the benefits of low coherence interferometry system to create an innovative real-time pressure and strain measurement technique. Leveraging past and current experiences with fiber optic sensor development, a proof-of-concept of optical pressure/strain sensor system with wireless data acquisition and transfer capability will be demonstrated at the end of Phase I. The distributed optical pressure/strain sensor measurements will be used to obtain real-time dynamic pressure fields and mode shapes and displacements by integrating strain data for the helicopter rotor blade. Phase I efforts will conduct optical pressure and strain sensor design analysis to meet on-blade pressure and strain measurement requirements and demonstrate a proof-of-concept prototyped wireless optical pressure and strain sensor package.