• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.46 no.7
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• pp.542-550
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• 2018

This paper presents design of a bearingless main rotor of SNUF (Seoul National University Flap) blade equipped with active trailing-edge flap to reduce the hub vibratory loads during helicopter forward flight. For that purpose, sectional design of the flexbeam is carried out using the thin-walled composite material rotating beam vibration analysis program (CORBA77_MEMB) in EDISON. Using the multi-body dynamics analysis program, DYMORE, blade dynamic characteristics and those of the loads control are examined using the active trailing-edge flap in terms of the flexbeam sectional design.

• Composites Research
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.207-212
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• 2014

The shape optimization of composite flexbeam sections of a bearingless helicopter rotor is studied using a finite element (FE) sectional analysis integrated with an efficient evolutionary optimization algorithm called particle swarm assisted genetic algorithm (PSGA). The sectional optimization framework is developed by automating the processes for geometry and mesh generation, and the sectional analysis to compute the elastic and inertial properties. Several section shapes are explored, modeled using quadratic B-splines with control points as design variables, through a multiobjective design optimization aiming minimum torsional stiffness, lag bending stiffness, and sectional mass while maximizing the critical strength ratio. The constraints are imposed on the mass, stiffnesses, and critical strength ratio corresponding to multiple design load cases. The optimal results reveal a simpler and better feasible section with double-H shape compared to the triple-H shape of the baseline where reductions of 9.46%, 67.44% and 30% each are reported in torsional stiffness, lag bending stiffness, and sectional mass, respectively, with critical strength ratio greater than 1.5.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aviation and Aeronautics
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.50-56
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• 2012

Rotor system is a very important part which produce lift, thrust and control force in helicopter. Component of rotor system must have structural integrity for applied load. The estimation of structural integrity is regarded greatly as important in aerospace field. In this study, the process of structural analysis performed for bearingless main rotor system of helicopter. The composite flexbeam and torque tube of bearingless main rotor are very thick, so 3D layered soild elements of MSC.PATRAN were used to get the finite element analysis results. To estimate structural integrity, non-linear static analysis considering geometric non-linearity is performed. In addition, detailed finete element analysis and non-linear static analysis are performed to consider the stress concentration for fitting effect and contact surface. The estimation process of structural integrity for bearingless main rotor system of helicopter may help the design.

• 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.

• 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.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering Conference
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• 2013.10a
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• pp.103-108
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• 2013

This paper describes basic properties tests and non-rotating dynamic test for rotor blade, flexbeam, and torque tube of which bearingless rotor in helicopter consists. A basic properties test are bending and twist test to find the flap stiffness, lag stiffness, and twist stiffness of specimens. The purpose of dynamic test is to find natural frequencies and modes in non-rotating state. The test results are used to update the analysis model. The updated analysis results using rotorcraft comprehensive code match the tests quite well. The updated model input based on the tests will be utilized to analysis the conditions of rotating whirl tower test before the whirl test and will be compared with the whirl tower test results.

• Transactions of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering
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• v.25 no.12
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• pp.881-887
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• 2015

The stiffness and natural frequencies for blades, flexbeam, and torque tube of bearingless rotor system are measured to determine the material input properties such as mass distributions and stiffness distribution for the rotor dynamics and load analysis. The flap stiffness, lag stiffness, and torsional stiffness are calculated by measuring section strain or twist angle, gages position, and applied loads through bending and twist tests. The modal tests are undertaken to find out the natural frequencies for flap, lag, torsion modes in non-rotating conditions. The stiffness values and mass properties are tuned and updated to match prediction frequencies to the measured frequencies. The rotorcraft comprehensive code(CAMRAD II) is used to analyze the natural frequencies of the specimens. The analysis results with the updated material properties agree well with the measured frequencies. The updated properties will be used to analyze the rotor stability, dynamic characteristics and loads for the rotor rotation test in a whirl tower.

• Transactions of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.352-357
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• 2012

The ground resonance instability of a helicopter with bearingless main rotor hub were investigated. The ground resonance instability is caused by an interaction between the blade lag motion and hub inplane motion. This instability occurs when the helicopter is on the ground and is important for soft-inplane rotors where the rotating lag mode frequency is less than the rotor rotational speed. For the analysis, the bearingless rotor was composed of blades, flexbeam, torque tube, damper, shear restrainer, and pitch links. The fuselage was modeled as a mass-damper-spring system having natural frequencies in roll and pitch motions. The rotor-fuselage coupling equations are derived in non-rotating frame to consider the rotor and fuselage equations in the same frame. The ground resonance instabilities for three cases where are without lead-lag damper and fuselage damping, with lead-lag damper and without fuselage damping, and finally with lead-lag damper and fuselage damping. There is no ground resonance instability in the only rotor-fuselage configuration with lead-lag damper and fuselage damping.

• 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.35 no.6
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• pp.503-508
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• 2007

In this study, the aeroelastic response and stability of bearingless rotors are investigated using a large deflection beam theory. The outboard main blade, flexbeam, and torque tube are all assumed to be an elastic beam undergoing arbitrary large displacements and rotations. The finite element equations of motion obtained from Hamilton's principle. Two-dimensional quasi-steady strip theory is used to evaluate aerodynamic forces. In hover, the modal approach method based on coupled rotating natural modes is used for the stability analysis. In forward flight, the nonlinear periodic blade steady response is obtained by integrating the full finite element equation in time through a coupled trim procedure with a vehicle trim. The results of the full finite element analysis using the large deflection beam theory are compared with those of a previously published modal analysis using the moderate deflection-type beam theory.