Reduction of Rotary-wing Aircraft Driveshaft Deflection via Damping

Prescott Products, as an application for its Composite Building Material CBM(Trademark), is proposing to manufacture composite inserts for rotational tubes that will provide vibration damping and deflection reduction. The development plan is to manufacturecored composite tubes from crosslinked, closed-cell, polyolefin foam. The tube insert will be spiral cut which will allow it to expand and press firmly against the inside wall of a rotating shaft. The thickness, foam charateristics, andcarbon/fiberglass/epoxy matrix can be tailored to provide desired levels of vibration and deflection reduction. The development of cored composite tubes has broad military and significant commercial applications. Most every rotary-wing aircraft hashollow rotating shafts. Reduction in vibratory loads and component deflection provides a reduction in required maintenance, improved passenger comfort, and extended life for replacement parts. Development aircraft such as the V-22 Ospray would benefitfrom CCT technology. Other commercial and military applications could include any hollow rotating shaft.