• Current Industrial and Technological Trends in Aerospace
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.118-130
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• 2010

In this paper, it is described the current technology status of bearingless rotor hub system for helicopter which is one of major rotor hub system. First, the advantages and disadvantages of major helicopter rotor hub system are described and compared each other. The unique characteristics of bearingless rotor hub system are described compared to other types of rotor hub systems. Next, the main function, role and characteristics of the sub-components of bearingless rotor hub system are described. Furtherly, recent helicopters which adopt this bearingless rotor hub system are described and introduced.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.40 no.8
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• pp.655-661
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• 2012

In this study, aerodynamic drag of a bearingless rotor hub was predicted by computational fluid dynamics methodology using unstructured overset mixed meshes. The calculated results showed that the drag due to pressure forces rather than the viscous drag act as a major factor on both the fuselage and rotor hub, and the drag acting on the torque tube accounted for the largest portion in the hub drag. It was also found the hub drag accounted for 39 ~ 41% of the fuselage drag. Finally, the result confirmed the drag of the designed rotor hub satisfied the requirement of the aerodynamic hub drag by comparing with the drag trend of developed helicopter.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.41 no.7
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• pp.561-568
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• 2013

After we designed Bearingless rotor hub system for 7,000lb class helicopter, flexbeam fatigue analysis was conducted for validation of requirement life time 8,000 hours. sectional structural analysis method applying elastic beam model was used. Fatigue analysis for two sections of flexbeam which were expected to weak to fatigue damage from result of static analysis was conducted. Extension, bending and torsion stiffness of flexbeam section shape was calculated using VABS for structure analysis. S-N curve of two composite material which composed flexbeam was generated using wohler equation. Load analysis of bearingless rotor system was conducted using CAMRAD II and load analysis result was applied HELIX/FELIX standard load spectrum to generate bearingless rotor system load spectrum which was used flexbeam fatigue safe life analysis.

• Aerospace Engineering and Technology
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.19-26
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• 2012

The requirement for the aerodynamic hub drag, allocated from the system requirement of development of a bearingless rotor hub, was analyzed and embodied to be substantiated by the methodology assigned from the requirement. Drag prediction for the initial hub configuration was carried out by hand calculation using aerodynamic drag coefficients and the design change about the sectional shape of torque tube was suggested to satisfy the requirement. Finally, drag prediction was performed for the changed hub configuration by using unstructured overset mesh technique and parallel computation and the calculated result satisfied the requirement of the aerodynamic hub drag. It was found that the drag of final hub configuration was also within the range of drag inferred from the trendline of developed helicopter.

• Aerospace Engineering and Technology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.10-19
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• 2014

We designed bearingless rotor hub system which replace mechanical hinge/bearing with composite beam component and conducted fatigue analysis for flexbeam and torque tube. Extension/bending/torsional stiffness was calculated from 2D section analysis using VABS and 2D section structure analysis was applied for strain calculation. S-N curve of each composite material was generated using Wohler equation and fatigue analysis was conducted on weakness section which was decided from static structure analysis. CAMRAD II was used for load analysis and load analysis result was applied HELIX/FELIX standard load spectrum to generate bearingless rotor system load spectrum which was used fatigue safe life analysis.

• Transactions of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering
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• v.22 no.8
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• pp.784-790
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• 2012

This paper describes a stability and dynamic characteristics of bearingless helicopter main rotor in hover. Baseline rotor configuration is defined and modal analysis for the configuration is taken to verify the dynamic characteristics. The kinematic pitch-lag couplings through ways of pitch link installation are analyzed to know effects on loads, frequencies and stability. The effects of pitch link attachments in spanwise direction and chordwise direction as well as pitch link inclination on thrust, power, flpa-lag-pitch mode frequencies and inplane damping are examined. Pitch link at trailing edge location in chordwise direction has influence on aeroelastic stability of the rotor. Also, the pitch link with negative inclination angle makes inplane damping increase.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering Conference
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• 2012.04a
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• pp.394-399
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• 2012

This paper describes a stability and dynamic characteristics of bearingless helicopter main rotor in hover. Baseline rotor configuration is defined and modal analysis for the configuration is taken to verify the dynamic characteristics. The kinematic pitch-lag couplings through ways of pitch link installation are analyzed to know effects on loads, frequencies and stability. The effects of pitch link attachments in spanwise direction and chordwise direction as well as pitch link inclination on thrust, power, flpa-lag-pitch mode frequencies and inplane damping are examined. Pitch link at trailing edge location in chordwise direction has influence on aeroelastic stability of the rotor. Also, the pitch link with negative inclination angle makes inplane damping increase.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering Conference
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• 2011.04a
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• pp.484-489
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• 2011

In this paper, it was described the current technology status of bearingless rotor hub system for helicopter which is one of major rotor hub system. Also, a conceptual study on the new bearingless rotor hub system of helicopter was described. First, the advantages and disadvantages of major helicopter rotor hub system are described in comparison to each other types of rotor hub system. The unique characteristics of bearingless rotor hub system are described compared to other types of rotor hub systems. Next, the main function, role and characteristics of the sub-components of bearingless rotor hub system are described. Recent helicopters which adopt this bearingless rotor hub system are described and introduced. This conceptual study shows that double-H sectional construction and rectangular construction of flexbeam are the most effective candidates of this new bearingless rotor system. This bearingless rotor hub system can be used for 7,000lbs class helicopter. Now, a further trade-off study will show.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.691-698
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• 2014

This paper describes the manufacturing processes for a flexbeam and torque tube made of composite materials, along with the procedures for testing their basic properties. A flexbeam and torque tube can be considered to be key structural components of a bearingless rotor hub system. A hinge offset effect can be realized by a large elastic deformation and twist of the flexbeam, and the blade pitch control forces are transferred by the rotation of the torque tube. The basic property tests included bending and twist tests to determine the flap stiffness, lag stiffness, and torsion stiffness of the flexbeam, torque tube, and blade, and these tests were performed prior to starting the whirl tower test. In addition, the estimated results were compared with experimental data, and the calculations were found to be a good match for the analysis results and had a similar tendency. Through these results, we could confirm that a flexbeam and torque tube made of composite materials satisfied the structural stiffness requirements.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering Conference
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• 2013.04a
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• pp.383-389
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• 2013

Rotor system is a very important part which produces lift, thrust and control force in helicopter. Component of rotor system must endure various flight load for the required life. In helicopter rotor system, bearingless rotor system is the highest technology rotor system compare with articulated and hingeless rotor system. Baaringless rotor system is not include mechanical flap hinge, lag hinge and pitch bearing. Bearingless rotor component flexbeam which made by composite material has conduct hinge and bearing role instead of mechanical flap hinge, lag hinge and pitch bearing. These characteristics has less part number and lass weight than others. In this paper, conduct safe life analysis of bearingless composite component flexbeam and torque tube applying to utility helicopter load condition.