Abstract:
This paper deals with the development of new simulation models to predict more accurately the mechanical loads transiting through Helicopter Dynamic Systems. When designing new dynamic systems, such as a main rotor for example, it is not uncommon to observe some differences between loads estimated by simulation and loads measured during the first tests. Anyone who wishes to master the development time must necessarily predict with good accuracy what will be the effects of the devices responsible for interconnecting the different parts of these systems. A simulation framework to address this issue is described in this paper. A multibody dynamic approach is used to model helicopter mechanical systems and to compute displacements and reaction loads at kinematic joints. The numerical approach chosen takes into consideration specific characteristics of helicopter parts such as blade flexibility. The study of a blade-rotor system is presented to illustrate the implementation of the proposed modeling framework. The first results obtained are analyzed and compared with test data.