Variable rotor speed strategy for coaxial compound helicopters with lift-offset rotors

Yuan, Y. , Thomson, D. and Chen, R. (2020) Variable rotor speed strategy for coaxial compound helicopters with lift-offset rotors. Aeronautical Journal, 124(1271), pp. 96-120. (doi: 10.1017/aer.2019.113)

Abstract

The coaxial compound helicopter with lift-offset rotors has been proposed as a concept for future high-performance rotorcraft. This helicopter usually utilizes a variable speed rotor system to improve the high speed performance and the cruise-efficiency. A flight dynamics model of this helicopter associated with rotorspeed governor/engine model is used in this article to investigate the effect of the rotor speed change and to study the variable rotor speed strategy. Firstly, the power required results at various rotor rotational speeds are calculated. This comparison indicates that choice of rotor speed can reduce the power consumption, and the rotor speed has to be reduced in high speed flight due to the compressibility effects at the blade tip region. Furthermore, the rotor speed strategy in trim is obtained by optimizing the power required. It is demonstrated that the variable rotor speed successfully improves the performance across the flight range, but especially in the mid-speed range, where the rotor speed strategy can reduce the overall power consumption by around 15%. To investigate the impact of the rotor speed strategy on the flight dynamics properties, the trim characteristics, the bandwidth & phase delay, and eigenvalues are investigated. It is shown that the reduction of the rotor speed alters the flight dynamics characteristics as it affects the stability, damping, and control power provided by the coaxial rotor. However, the handling qualities requirements are still satisfied with different rotor speed strategies. Finally, a rotor speed strategy associated with the collective pitch is designed for manoeuvring flight considering the normal load factor. Inverse simulation is used to investigate this strategy on manoeuvrability in the Push-up & Pull-over Mission-Task-Element (MTE). It is shown that the helicopter can achieve Level 1 ratings with this rotor speed strategy. In addition, the rotor speed strategy could further reduce the power consumption and pilot workload during the manoeuvre.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Thomson, Dr Douglas and Yuan, Dr Ye
• Authors: Yuan, Y., Thomson, D., and Chen, R.
• Subjects: T Technology > TL Motor vehicles. Aeronautics. Astronautics
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Autonomous Systems and Connectivity
• Journal Name: Aeronautical Journal
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• ISSN: 0001-9240
• ISSN (Online): 2059-6464
• Published Online: 27 September 2019
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2019 Royal Aeronautical Society
• First Published: First published in Aeronautical Journal 124(1271): 96-120
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy