Design and Control Strategies using Smart Structures Technology for Rotorcraft Maneuverablity Enhancement

Military rotorcraft will need a high degree of maneuverng capability to survive in the future battlefield operations. Conventional design methods and blade control technology offer only limited means for improving current maneuver performance levels. As a consequence, alternate technologies involving active control and "smart" materials are attractive since they offer the possibility of enhancing load factor, turning rate, and climb rate without penalties in vehicle utility. This proposal outlines an effort to evaluate the feasibility of new design and control strategies for rotor blades to improve maneuverig performance. These strategies will be based on the use of active control of twist and camber based on the application of Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) technology. This effort will combine advanced performance prediction and design optimization methods with recent work in rotor state estimation and control techniques to evaluate the improvements in rotor maneuverability available using actuators based on SMA technology.