• International Journal of Aeronautical and Space Sciences
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.641-650
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• 2017

In order to include the design capability for a compound rotorcraft in a helicopter conceptual design and optimization framework, relevant further improvement was planned and conducted. Previously, a certain conceptual design optimization framework was developed by the present authors to design a modern rotorcraft with single main and tail rotor. The previously developed framework was further improved to expand its capability for a compound rotorcraft. Specifically, its power estimation algorithm was upgraded by using a comprehensive rotorcraft analysis program, CAMRAD II. The presently improved conceptual design and optimization framework was validated using data of the XH-59A aircraft.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.75-84
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• 2021

The authors had presented two previous papers[1,2] on Helicopter/Rotorcraft develoment in Europe and US. Meanwhile, the next generation rotorcrafts, currently under development in US and Europe, have new configurations (tilt-rotor, coaxial, compound) of rotor-type vertical takeoff/landing rotorcrafts to overcome the disadvantages of traditional helicopters. For developing these new types of rotorcrafts, the upgraded conceptual design/comprehensive programs are required. In US and Europe, they are already developing new program tools with their technologies and database obtained during more than last half centuries. For us, many academia, research institutes and industrial engineers have experienced and developed core technologies on rotorcrafts (aerodynamics, structural analysis, flight dynamics, and noise analysis etc.) comparable to US and Europe during last couple of decades of developing helicopters and various configurations of rotorcrafts. In this paper, the pros and cons of conceptual design/comprehensive tools currently used in US and Europe have been summarized. Furthermore, the possibilities and problems to develope our own design and analysis tools have been studied.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.224-231
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• 2009

In this study, an aerodynamic performance analysis code has been developed as a part of rotorcraft comprehensive program. Airloads on rotor blades are calculated based on the blade element theory with look-up tables of aerodynamic coefficients of 2-D airfoils. In order to calculate rotor induced inflow, various inflow prediction methods such as linear inflow, dynamic inflow, prescribed wake and free wake model are integrated into the present module. The aerodynamic characteristics of each method are compared and validated against available experimental data such as Elliot's inflow distribution and sectional normal force coefficients of AH-1G.

• International Journal of Aeronautical and Space Sciences
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.23-33
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• 2009

The inherent aeromechanical complexity of a rotor system necessitated the comprehensive analysis code for helicopter rotor system. In the present study, an aerodynamic analysis module has been developed as a part of rotorcraft comprehensive program. Aerodynamic analysis module is largely classified into airload calculation routine and inflow analysis routine. For airload calculation, quasi-steady analysis model is employed based on the blade element method with the correction of unsteady aerodynamic effects. In order to take unsteady effects - body motion effects and dynamic stall - into account, aerodynamic coefficients are corrected by considering Leishman-Beddoes's unsteady model. Various inflow models and vortex wake models are implemented in the aerodynamic module to consider wake induced inflow. Specifically, linear inflow, dynamic inflow, prescribed wake and free wake model are integrated into the present module. The aerodynamic characteristics of each method are compared and validated against available experimental data such as Elliot's induced inflow distribution and sectional normal force coefficients of AH-1G. In order to validate unsteady aerodynamic model, 2-D unsteady model for NACA0012 airfoil is validated against aerodynamic coefficients of McAlister's experimental data.

• Journal of Aerospace System Engineering
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.36-43
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• 2017

Blade design optimization of QTP-UAV prop-rotor was conducted using ModelCenter(R). Performance efficiency of the blade in hover and forward flight were adopted as the multi-objective function. Required power and pitch link force applied to constraint in each flight mode and limited lower than the value of the baseline blade. Design variables of root chord length of the blade, taper ratio, twist slope, twist angle at 0.5R of the blade, anhedral angle, parabolic coefficient of a tip shape and location of airfoil were used to generate the blade planform. CAMRAD-II, the comprehensive analysis program of rotorcraft, was used for performance analysis of prop-rotor blade in design process. Performance of the optimized blade improved 1.6% of figure of merit in hover and 13.6% of propulsive efficiency in forward flight. Pitch link force also reduced approximately 30% less than that of the baseline blade.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.159-166
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• 2018

In this study, the internal structural design, dynamic characteristics and load analyses of the small scaled rotor blade required for LCH(Light Civil Helicopter) main rotor wind tunnel test were carried out. The test is performed to evaluate the aerodynamic performance and noise characteristics of the LCH main rotor system. Therefore, the Mach-scale technique was appled to design the small scaled blade to simulate the equivalent aerodynamic characteristics as the full scale rotor system. It is necessary to increase the rotor speed to maintain the same blade tip speed as the full scale blade. In addition, the blade weight, section stiffness, and natural frequency were scaled according to the Mach-type scaling factor(${\lambda}$). For the design of skin, spar, torsion box, which are the main components of the blade, carbon and glass fiber composite materials were adopted, and composite materials are prepreg types that can be supplied domestically. The KSec2D program was used to evaluate the section stiffness of the blade. Also, structural loads and dynamic characteristics of the Mach scale blade were investigated through the comprehensive rotorcraft analysis program CAMRADII.

• Journal of Aerospace System Engineering
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.52-59
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• 2019

The rotor blade is a key component that generates the lift, thrust, and control forces required for helicopter flight by the torque transmitted through the hub and the blade pitch angle control, and should be designed to factor vibration characteristics so that there is no risk of resonance with structural safety. In this study, the structural design of the main rotor blade for MPUH(Multi-Purpose Unmanned Helicopter) was conducted and the sectional stiffness measurement of the fabricated blade was performed. The evaluation of the vibration characteristics of the main rotor system was then conducted factoring the measured stiffness distribution. The interior of the rotor blade comprised of the skin, spar, and torsion box, and carbon and glass fiber composites were applied. The Ksec2D program was applied to predict the stiffness of blade, and the results were compared to the measured data. CAMRADII, a comprehensive rotorcraft analysis program, was applied to investigate the natural frequency trends and resonance risks due to the rotor rotation.