Advanced Rotorcraft Comprehensive Analysis

This proposal addresses the planned improvements to advance the Rotorcraft Comprehensive Analysis System (RCAS) during Phase II of this SBIR. Significant improvements will be implemented to expand RCAS functionality, accuracy, and usability. RCAS functionality will be greatly expanded with the addition of new complex rotorcraft components that allow users to model exotic configurations easily and with high fidelity. The functionality and accuracy of RCAS aerodynamics calculations will be enhanced through updates to the airloads, induced velocity, and interference aerodynamics models. In addition, the airloads calculations will be improved through the expansion of the Peters, Hsieh, and Torrero airloads module implemented in Phase I of this SBIR. Improvements to convergence characteristics, and the implementation of more robust routines for handling program data, will make RCAS much more efficient when modeling large and complex models. RCAS user efficiency will be improved through the coupling of RCAS with widely used external programs to allow users to easily import/export data between programs. To improve RCAS usability, an intuitive graphical user interface for model input, analysis, and output will be implemented. The graphical user interface, designed in Phase I of this SBIR, will greatly enhance user efficiency and confidence through improved feedback, flexibility, and help.