A Structural Load Comparison of Dynamically Balanced and Imbalanced Main Rotor Blades

Wesley Viall; Kit Fry; Emily Meyer; Graham Smith

doi:10.4050/F-0080-2024-0021

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A Structural Load Comparison of Dynamically Balanced and Imbalanced Main Rotor Blades

Wesley Viall, Kit Fry, US Army CCDC AvMC

Emily Meyer, Graham Smith, University of Alabama in Huntsville

May 7, 2024

https://doi.org/10.4050/F-0080-2024-0021

Abstract:
A limited flight load survey was performed on a fleet representative UH-60L aircraft flown with various degrees and combinations of dynamically imbalanced blades. Blades selected for this test ranged in both positive and negative severity of pitching moment slope values to substantiate rotor smoothing efficacy and the effect on dynamic component oscillatory loads for dynamically imbalanced blades compared to a baseline of nominally balanced blades. For every component analyzed, greater than 70% of the maneuvers presented showed an increase in structural loads in the unbalanced configuration compared to the baseline balanced blades. Most components and maneuvers that did experience an increase in loads remained non-damaging. However, the damper experienced several maneuvers where an increase in loads may have indicated a change in fatigue lives. Based on a colloquial rule of thumb.