Framework for the optimisation of a helicopter rotor blade with an approximate BERP tip: numerical methods and application

Johnson, C. S., Woodgate, M. and Barakos, G. N. (2017) Framework for the optimisation of a helicopter rotor blade with an approximate BERP tip: numerical methods and application. In: Marques, P. and Da Ronch, A. (eds.) Advanced UAV Aerodynamics, Flight Stability and Control: Novel Concepts, Theory and Applications. Series: Aerospace series. John Wiley & Sons Ltd, pp. 345-398. ISBN 9781118928684 (doi: 10.1002/9781118928691.ch10)

Abstract

This chapter describes the optimisation of a BERP-like rotor planform using an optimisation method that employed a genetic algorithm and an artificial neural network that was trained using high-fidelity computational fluid dynamics (CFD) data from the Helicopter Multiblock Solver CFD solver. The BERP tip was designed for high-speed forward hover performance. The described work aims to demonstrate a framework, allowing different aspects of rotors and fuselages to be aerodynamically optimised given an existing design as a starting point. For real helicopter rotors, the initial designs would already be near optimum and the aim is to capture the aerodynamic effects of any design changes and adjust the variables of the design to find an optimum that will lead to better rotor performance. Fully analysing a rotor using time-marching CFD methods, even when parallel computing is used, can take hours of clock time. Another technique is the harmonic balance (HB) method.

• Item Type: Book Sections
• Status: Published
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Barakos, Professor George and Woodgate, Dr Mark
• Authors: Johnson, C. S., Woodgate, M., and Barakos, G. N.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Autonomous Systems and Connectivity
• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons Ltd
• ISBN: 9781118928684