Design and application of an Electric Tail Rotor Drive Control(ETRDC) for helicopters with performance tests

With the development of electric helicopters’ motor technology and the widespread use of electric drive rotors, more aircraft use electric rotors to provide thrust and directional control.For a helicopter tail rotor, the wake of the main rotor influences the tail rotor’s inflow and wake.In the procedure of controlling, crosswind will also cause changes to the tail disk load. This paper describes requirements and design principles of an electric motor drive and variable pitch tail rotor system. A particular spoke-type architecture of the motor is designed, and the performance of blades is analyzed by the CFD method. The demand for simplicity of moving parts and strict constraints on the weight of a helicopter makes the design of electrical and mechanical components challenging. Different solutions have been investigated to propose an effective alternative to the mechanical actuation system. A test platform is constructed which can collect the dynamic response of the thrust control. The enhancement of the response speed due to an individual motor speed control and variable-pitch system is validated.

Performance analysis of variable speed tail rotors with Gurney flaps

Gurney Flaps(GFs) are used for improving the performance of variable speed tail rotors. A validated analytical helicopter model able to predict the main and tail rotor power is utilized. The fixed height GF has substantially small influence on the tail rotor power in hover and low to medium speed forward flight, and can obtain significant power reduction in high speed flight.This ability can be enhanced by decreasing the tail rotor speed. With the deployment of GF, the collective pitch of the tail rotor decreases, and the maximum tail rotor thrust increases. The GF can compensate the reduction of the maximum thrust by the decrease in the tail rotor speed. The GF with a height of 5% of the chord length can almost remedy 50% of the thrust reduction introduced by decreasing 10% of the tail rotor speed. With the increase of GF height, the maximum thrust generated by the tail rotor increases. The GF with larger height can cause the increase in the tail rotor power in hover and low to medium speed flight. The retractable GF can obtain more power savings than the fixed height GF. However, the benefit is substantially small even in high speed flight. Considering the side effects introduced by the active GF, the fixed height GF may be more preferable. The mechanism for the retractable GF to generate more tail rotor thrust is to increase the lift in advancing side due to the higher dynamic pressure.

AERODYNAMIC ANALYSIS OF HELICOPTER SHROUDED TAIL ROTOR BY MOMENTUM THEORY

In this paper, in order to clarify the gains of the shroud in the shrouded tail rotor system, a thrust division factor q , which represents the ratio of the shroud thrust to the total thrust of the shrouded tail rotor, is introduced. With the help of q , the slipstream theory for the static and axial flow states of the shrouded tail rotor are fully derived. Based on the sliptream theory, the variations of the thrust, power and disk area against q for different cases are emphatically analysed and the comparisons between a shrouded tail rotor and an isolated one are made. It is shown that, although the shroud can provide as much as 50% of the total thrust of shrouded tail rotor for the static state, the thrust gains of the shroud rapidly decrease for the axial flow state, which depends on the flow velocity ratio.

Simulation on Helicopter Scissors Tail-Rotor Noise Based on N-S Equations and F1A Formulas

Aiming at the noise of helicopter scissors tail-rotor,an advanced numerical method is established by combining computational fluid dynamics(CFD)model with Farassat 1 A(F1 A)formula.In this method,Navier-tokes(N-S)equations are used as governing equations,and the flow field is solved at quasi-steady and unsteady states in hover and forward fight,respectively,based on two different types of embedded grid systems.A simple and effective solution approach is provided for the generation difficulty of donor cells caused by the close gap among scissors tail-rotor blades.Using the CFD calculation results as input,the thickness noise,loading noise and total noise of tail-rotor are calculated by F1 Aformula.By the method,numerical examples on rotor flowfield and noise are performed and the results are compared with available data.Then,aerodynamic and acoustic characteristics of scissors tail-rotor are emphatically calculated in both hover and forward flight.Furthermore,the research on the effects of blade-tip shape parameters on scissors tail-rotor noise is carried out.Also,the scissors tail-rotor is compared with the conventional tail-rotor,and the results show that in hover,the noise of a scissors tail-rotor is not always the smaller one.

Hover performance of helicopter main and tail rotors with swirl velocities

It is important to quickly predict the hover performance of main and tail rotors with sufficient precision for helicopter design. To investigate the effects of swirl velocities on the hover performance of main and tail rotors, and give a better prediction for the hover performance, a flight performance model was derived and a swirl velocity model was coupled into it. The test data of the UH-60 A helicopter were used for validation. When the blade loading coefficient of the main rotor was higher than 0.05, the effects of the swirl velocities on the main rotor power became significant. The swirl velocities increased the profile torque of the main rotor. The increased torque required the tail rotor to produce more thrust with more power consumption. At a higher blade loading coefficient of the main rotor of 0.12, the swirl velocities increased the main rotor power, tail rotor power and total power by 3.80%, 5.24% and 5.08%, respectively. The profile power increase of the main rotor caused by the profile swirl velocity was less than that of the induced swirl velocity, but the power increase was higher at high rotor blade loadings. Considering the swirl velocities in the main rotor can improve the prediction precision of the hover performance, especially at high blade loadings.

Numerical Calculations of Aerodynamic and Acoustic Characteristics for Scissor Tail-Rotor in Forward Flight

The aerodynamic and aeroacoustic characteristics of a scissor tail-rotor in a forward flight are numerically calculated.A novel computational fluid dynamics(CFD)model based on Navier-Stokes(N-S)equations is presented to simulate the unsteady flowfield and the aerodynamic characteristics of a scissor tail-rotor in the forward flight.Then the Farassat Formulation 1 Aderived from the FW-H equation is coupled into the CFD model in order to compute the aeroacoustic characteristics of the scissor tail-rotor.In addition,two different scissor tail-rotor configurations,i.e.,the L-and U-configuration,are analyzed in details and compared with a conventional one.The influence of scissor angles on the aerodynamic and aeroacoustic characteristics of the scissor tail-rotor is also investigated.The simulation results demonstrate that the flowfield,aerodynamic force and aeroacoustic characteristics of a scissor tail-rotor are significantly different from the conventional one,and the aerodynamic interaction decreases with the increase of scissor angle,which leads to a reduction of amplitude variation of the tail-rotor thrust in the forward flight.The scissor angle has an important effect on the aerodynamics and aeroacoustics of the scissor tail-rotor.

直升机涵道尾桨永磁同步电机设计与仿真

针对直升机涵道尾桨机械传动系统传动链长、噪声大、结构复杂、传动轴刚度差和安装维护周期长等缺陷,设计一种适用于直升机涵道尾桨的永磁同步电机。通过探究悬停工况下电机主要尺寸与尾桨桨叶长度、宽度以及安装角度的关系,明确一定范围内电机主要尺寸最小时的功率、转矩和转速;采用分数槽集中绕组进一步提升了功率密度,基于14极18槽完成了电机设计。建立电磁场和温度场有限元仿真模型,验证电磁设计的合理性以及永磁体分段降温的有效性。与未分段相比,当永磁体沿周向分4段时,永磁体平均温度降低了55.43%。结果表明:该电机功率密度较高,输出特性良好并且温升较低,能够长时间可靠运行。

直升机尾桨参数对RCS影响分析

在执行战时任务时,对武装直升机的隐身性能提出了较高要求,为降低直升机在执行任务时被发现的概率,基于几何光学法和一致性绕射理论,研究直升机尾桨翼型厚度、弯度、剪刀角角度对RCS的影响。选用两种雷达照射方位,通过对尾桨不同参数和涂敷吸波材料的RCS峰值、均值对比,判断更有利于直升机尾桨隐身的条件。结果表明:雷达从地面照射时,尾桨厚度小、弯度小的RCS会适当减小,剪刀角角度的变化会导致RCS峰值相位变化;雷达平行照射时,厚度小的尾桨RCS小,弯度小的RCS峰值更小;在桨叶前缘与桨尖端面涂敷吸波材料可以有效降低桨叶整体RCS。因此,选择尾桨的厚度越小、弯度越小,有利于降低直升机尾桨的RCS,对桨尖端面和桨叶前缘进行吸波材料涂敷可以有效降低整体RCS。

基于梁模型的无轴承尾桨等效建模及模态分析

无轴承尾桨叶开展模态试验时,出现同一阶对称型与反对称型摆振频率差异较大的现象。为了揭示频率出现差异的原因,对该无轴承尾桨叶进行有限元分析与试验研究。建立无轴承尾桨有限元模型时,考虑到无轴承尾桨多路传力方式及根部边界约束复杂的特点,采用分步式建模方法:第一步基于静力缩聚方法对柔性梁根部夹持区等效梁进行计算,获得根部剖面等效刚度;第二步基于三维等效梁模型计算方法,采用ABAQUS软件建立无轴承尾桨的有限元梁模型。对不同根部边界约束下的无轴承尾桨动特性进行了分析研究,并开展了不同根部边界条件下的静态动特性试验,计算结果与试验结果吻合良好。研究结果表明:柔性梁根部边界条件对桨叶摆振模态频率影响较大,是桨叶出现同一阶对称型与反对称型摆振频率较大差异的原因;分步式建模方法可以兼顾无轴承尾桨动特性计算的精确性和计算效率,满足工程设计需求。

直升机尾桨毂低温下轴向铰转动困难问题分析与处理

直升机尾桨毂在极端低温环境下(环境温度-44.5℃)地面调试过程中发生了轴向铰转动困难故障。为此,对故障现象、结构尺寸设计、温度对零件尺寸的影响等进行了分析和充分的试验,制定并采取相应措施。这些措施经地面试验和装机试飞验证,取得了很好的实施效果。

无人直升机尾桨轴承超声信号故障映射模型

无人直升机被广泛应用于军事民用领域中执行高危任务,对其进行健康维护具有重要意义。尾桨轴承是无人直升机尾桨的关键零件,关系到无人直升机的平衡与航向控制。传统基于振动信号的监测诊断方法易受环境噪音干扰,诊断算法也易受噪声混叠影响。为解决以上问题,提出了一种基于超声信号的无人机尾桨轴承故障映射模型。首先,采集轴承不同故障状态下的超声信号。然后,利用自适应噪声完备集合经验模态分解(CEEMDAN)算法将信号分解,对分解后的信号分量计算各类熵值并融合构造特征向量。最后,将特征向量输送到基于粒子群优化算法的最小二乘支持向量机中建立特征向量与故障类型的映射模型,实现故障诊断。该方法在超声信号下对尾桨轴承早期故障诊断具有有效性和敏感性。

直升机超临界尾传动轴限幅减振器非线性动力学特性研究

直升机超临界尾传动轴在跨临界转速时会产生剧烈的振动。限幅减振器是专门针对尾传动轴跨临界减振问题设计的一种复合式减振器。限幅减振器与尾传动轴组成的系统具有摩擦、碰撞等强非线性特征,动力学特性异常复杂。为揭示限幅减振器工作机理并指导减振器设计,建立了具有双间隙结构的限幅减振器与尾传动轴系统的弹簧‑质量‑阻尼等效模型。分别基于直接时间域积分和时频变换谐波平衡(Harmonic Balance Method with Alternating Frequency‑Time Domain Technique)+数值延拓(Numerical Continuation)两种方法对控制方程进行了求解。计算结果表明,限幅减振器存在无作用、正常减振、异常减振、限位四种工作状态。其中,限位状态是针对故障工况下尾传动轴进行的临时限位保护。此外,进一步研究了减振器参数对减振和限位效果的影响,得到了传动轴与碰摩环之间间隙、碰撞刚度以及临界摩擦力对限幅减振器减振效果的影响规律。发现存在最优临界摩擦力,且最优临界摩擦力与传动轴不平衡量等有关。同时限位状态下,通过增加碰摩环与底座之间的碰撞刚度可以减小限位幅值,但也会产生更大的冲击力。最后,开展了正常减振工况下碰摩间隙和临界摩擦力两个关键参数对限幅环减振效果影响的试验研究,验证了模型的有效性。

Lift System Design of Tail-Sitter Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

The main advantage of tail-sitter unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) are introduced. Three design solutions of rotor tail-sitter lift system of UAV have been presented and the respective control strategies and characteristics of three solutions are also analyzed in the paper, through the related experiments the design of twin-rotor lift system is verified, and its feasibility is proved. The characteristics and the applying background of the twin-rotor tail-sitter UAV are described in detail. Some useful conclusions of the lift system for tail-sitter UAV are obtained.

直升机涵道尾桨气动噪声特性风洞试验研究

基于中国航空工业空气动力研究院FL–52航空声学风洞试验条件,对直升机涵道尾桨模型的气动噪声特性进行了试验研究。对试验数据进行了射流剪切层影响修正,获得了涵道尾桨在悬停、前飞状态下的噪声频谱及远场指向性。分析了噪声随桨尖马赫数的变化规律,结果显示涵道尾桨气动噪声符合载荷噪声特性。对比了桨叶沿桨毂周向分布规律对气动噪声频谱特征的影响。获得了悬停和前飞状态下涵道对噪声传播的遮蔽效果影响,悬停状态下尾桨旋转平面内噪声降低约2 dB,前飞状态下尾桨旋转平面内噪声降低5~8 dB。

分布式涵道尾桨气动噪声特性研究

为研究新型分布式涵道尾桨噪声特性,建立了基于滑移网格和可穿透积分面的分布式涵道尾桨气动、噪声特性分析方法并验证了方法的有效性。流动控制方程采用非定常雷诺平均N-S方程,空间离散采用二阶逆风Roe格式,时间推进方法采用隐式LU-SGS格式,湍流模型采用S-A一方程湍流模型,噪声求解方法采用FW-H方程。基于建立的方法,对比分析了传统变总距孤立尾桨和电动变转速多涵道尾桨气动与噪声特性。结果表明:相同气动力状态下,相比于变总距孤立尾桨,在尾桨噪声主要影响方位(桨盘平面内),三涵道尾桨噪声降低5~6 dB。随着转速降低,分布式涵道尾桨噪声声压级逐渐降低。

基于SST全湍流伴随的尾桨翼型优化方法

为解决当前翼型优化中广泛使用的冻结湍流黏性假设存在的固有缺陷和基于Spalart-Allmaras(S-A)全湍流伴随中湍流模型对气动力计算精度较差的问题,提出一套新的翼型优化方法,其耦合了全湍流连续伴随求解、剪切应力传递(SST)湍流模型封闭的雷诺平均Navier-Stokes(RANS)方程、自由变形参数化方法和动网格变形技术。基于所提方法,在气动力系数相较于S-A模型有更高捕捉精度的基础上,对NPL9615翼型以最大升阻比为优化目标,并与冻结湍流黏性假设方法对比。结果表明:所提方法将原有翼型的升阻比提高了16.39%,而冻结湍流黏性假设方法获得最终翼型的升阻比仅提高了原有翼型的9.84%,说明所提方法在最优外形的获取上要领先于冻结湍流黏性假设,并且当翼型周围的湍流动能显著提高时,其优势愈发扩大。

直升机尾桨需用功率评价方法研究

作为操纵面和气动面,尾桨需用功率一直是直升机设计过程中非常关注的问题。工程当中的尾桨需用功率,原则上可以通过对尾桨轴扭矩的实测换算获得,但受限于传感器加装尾桨轴后的结构干涉等问题,一直无法获得飞行过程中尾桨轴的扭矩实测值。该文通过间接测量的方式,利用实测获得的直升机尾斜轴扭矩值,开展直升机真实大气飞行过程中的尾桨需用功率评价研究,选取定常的直升机稳定平飞和稳定悬停状态,将理论计算与实测结果进行对比,分析二者的差异性,同时分析基于尾斜轴扭矩测量结果的间接功率评价方法的准确性。该测量方法可为直升机尾桨需用功率评价提供可靠的技术支撑。

直升机尾桨叶翼型段疲劳试验技术研究

目的 提升尾桨叶翼型段疲劳试验安装和调试速率,加快考核出尾桨叶翼型段疲劳性能和疲劳寿命。方法 通过标定出尾桨叶翼型段挥舞与摆振标定系数和预扭角,分析出一种通过理论计算出安装攻角的方法,利用理论计算出的攻角指导实际安装攻角,调整攻角值到实际加载满足试验要求的载荷值,在尾桨叶翼型段安装和调试完成后进行了疲劳试验。结果 4件尾桨叶翼型段理论计算攻角值与实际安装攻角进行对比,安装攻角理论值与实际值偏差范围在1.5°以内,并且4件尾桨叶翼型段疲劳试验载荷分布误差小于4%,疲劳性能满足6000飞行小时的疲劳寿命要求。结论 尾桨叶翼型疲劳试验中,理论计算攻角值具有加快估算安装攻角的意义,提升疲劳试验效率,试验调试载荷分布基本一致。经过尾桨叶翼型段疲劳试验验证后,试验件疲劳性能良好且稳定,为后续科研试验转入鉴定试验提供了基础。

某型直升机尾桨断裂故障分析

明确某型直升机尾桨断裂故障原因,对于该型机的使用、维护有现实意义,对于新机型的安全性提升有借鉴意义。首先通过故障树分析法对某型直升机尾桨叶断裂故障进行分析,得到底事件分析结果;然后开展宏、微观断口分析;最后对柔性梁断口损伤演化开展仿真分析。结果表明:桨叶断裂性质为低应力高周双向弯曲疲劳断裂,当柔性梁纤维压缩方向强度性能值小于700 MPa时,断口的形式与故障尾桨柔性梁断口类型相似;大载荷状态尾桨会产生较大的振动,振动的增加加剧了尾桨的载荷,导致尾桨柔性梁根部载荷增加,超出柔性梁设计承载能力,桨叶柔性梁根部疲劳断裂。

基于超单元法的无轴承尾桨根部动力学等效参数分析

无轴承尾桨柔性梁根部通过金属夹板夹持,在夹持区外侧袖套与柔性梁通过支撑轴承连接。传统的设置刚性梁段的简化分析方法计算低阶模态误差较大,依赖试验修正,无法满足正向工程设计需求。基于超单元理论,利用三维有限元对柔性梁根部夹持区进行静力缩聚,得到适用于梁模型旋翼气弹分析的等效桨毂动力学参数,并分析了柔性梁缩聚长度的影响。尾桨静态特性和旋转动特性试验结果表明,该等效方法计算准确。