Advanced Rotor Aerodynamics For Dynamic Stall Alleviation Using Robust Flow Control

"Compliant structures technology, coupled with variable camber leading-edge dynamicstall control, has the potential to significantly improve the performance of modernrotorcraft. The objective of this Phase I proposal is to use compliant structurestechnology to design a hinge-less, variable camber, semi-span, leading-edge forrotor blade dynamic stall control utilizing compliant monolithic structures. Thesystem will provide a significantly enhanced performance envelope for the rotorcraftin the form of increased speed, maneuverability, payload, and range as compared totraditional designs. The new compliant structures design will alleviate retreatingblade stall with a robust and reliable variable camber leading-edge system. The newsystem will be lightweight, rugged, maintainable, damage tolerant, and have a lowradar cross-section, all while providing exceptional maneuverability, performance,and payload capacity. The commercialization potential for advanced, high performance helicopter bladeairfoils, designed with a reliable and robust variable camber leading-edge isexcellent. It is recognized that future rotorcraft are expected to play anincreasingly important role in military operations in the form of long rangetransport, low altitude deep penetration, and air to air/air-to-ground combat.The rotorcraft industry will be eager to exploit the advantages of the variablecamber compliant structure based design. This new design approach wi