Enhanced Rotorcraft Aerodynamic Modules to Support Flight Testing

This SBIR is to develop advanced rotorcraft aerodynamic modules to significantly enhance and improve the analytical prediction of rotorcraft performance, stability, dynamic response, and loads to support vehicle design, manufacturing, operation, and flight testing. The research and development will address five critical application areas: rotor dynamic stall, modern rotor blade tip aerodynamics, unsteady rotor downwash,low speed and high rate of descent, and rotor unsteady loads prediction. Phase I of this SBIR demonstrated that the advanced aerodynamic modules can be developed and applied for high fidelity rotor aerodynamic solutions. The Phase II efforts will emphasize the full development of the Phase I prototypes and address the implementation of these new rotor aerodynamic modeling functionalities in the comprehensive aircraft simulation program FLIGHTLAB and provide users with an effective modeling tool in support of rotorcraft design and testing.