• International Journal of Aeronautical and Space Sciences
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.120-131
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• 2016

The full results of troubleshooting process related to the flight control system of a tilt-rotor type UAV in the flight tests are described. Flight tests were conducted in helicopter, conversion, and airplane modes. The vehicle was flown using automatic functions, which include speed-hold, altitude-hold, heading-hold, guidance modes, as well as automatic take-off and landing. Many unexpected problems occurred during the envelope expansion tests which were mostly under those automatic functions. The anomalies in helicopter mode include vortex ring state (VRS), long delay in the automatic take-off, and the initial overshoot in the automatic landing. In contrast, the anomalies in conversion mode are untrimmed AOS oscillation and the calibration errors of the air data sensors. The problems of low damping in rotor speed and roll rate responses are found in airplane mode. Once all of the known problems had been solved, the vehicle in airplane mode gradually reached the maximum design speed of 440km/h at the operation altitude of 3km. This paper also presents a comprehensive detailing of the control systems of the tilt-rotor unmanned air vehicle (UAV).

• International Journal of Aeronautical and Space Sciences
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.93-114
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• 2011

The current status of Canadian research on rotor-based actively controlled technologies for helicopters is reviewed in this paper. First, worldwide research in this field is overviewed to put Canadian research into context. Then, the unique hybrid control concept of Carleton University is described, along with its key element, the "stiffness control" concept. Next, the smart hybrid active rotor control system (SHARCS) projected's history and organization is presented, which aims to demonstrate the hybrid control concept in a wind tunnel test campaign. To support the activities of SHARCS, unique computational tools, novel experimental facilities and new know-how had to be developed in Canada, among them the state-of-the-art Carleton Whirl Tower facility or the ability to design and manufacture aeroelastically scaled helicopter rotors for wind tunnel testing. In the second half of the paper, details are provided on the current status of development on the three subsystems of SHARCS, i.e. that of the actively controlled tip, the actively controlled flap and the unique stiffness-control device, the active pitch link.

• International Journal of Aeronautical and Space Sciences
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.117-124
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• 2009

In the environment where various and complicated threat signals exist, RWR (Radar Warning Receiver), which can warn pilot of the existence of threats, has long been a necessary electronic warfare (EW) system to improve survivability of aircraft. The angle of arrival (AOA) information, the most reliable sorting parameter in the RWR, is measured by means of four-quadrant amplitude comparison direction finding (DF) technique. Each of four antennas (usually spiral antenna) of DF unit covers one of four quadrant zones, with 90 degrees apart with nearby antenna. According to the location of antenna installed in helicopter, RWR is subject to signal loss and interference by helicopter body and structures including tail bumper, rotor blade, and so on, causing a difficulty of detecting hostile emitters. In this paper, the performance degradation caused by signal interference by tail rotor blades has been estimated by measuring amplitude video signals into which RWR converts RF signals in case a part of antenna is screened by real tail rotor blade in anechoic chamber. The results show that corruption of pulse amplitude (PA) is main cause of DF error. We have proposed two algorithms for resolving the interference by tail rotor blades as below: First, expand the AOA group range for pulse grouping at the first signal analysis phase. Second, merge each of pulse trains with the other, that signal parameter except PRI and AOA is similar, after the first signal analysis phase. The presented method makes it possible to use RWR by reducing interference caused by blade screening in case antenna is screened by tail rotor blades.

• 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.

• Advances in aircraft and spacecraft science
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.69-91
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• 2014

Numerical investigations are presented, which show that a back-flow flap can improve the dynamic stall characteristics of oscillating airfoils. The flap was able to weaken the stall vortex and therefore to reduce the peak in the pitching moment. This paper gives a brief insight into the method of function of a back-flow flap. Initial wind tunnel experiments were performed to define the structural requirements for a detailed experimental wind tunnel characterization. A structural integration concept and two different actuation mechanisms of a back-flow flap for a helicopter rotor blade are presented. First a piezoelectric actuation system was investigated, but the analytical model to estimate the performance showed that the displacement generated is too low to enable reliable operation. The seond actuation mechanism is based on magnetic forces to generate an impulse that initiates the opening of the flap. A concept based on two permanent magnets is further detailed and characterized, and this mechanism is shown to generate sufficient impulse for reliable operation in the wind tunnel.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.217-224
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• 2020

The use of a high gain flight control system to achieve high bandwidth performance increase the instability of a helicopter. To investigate these phenomena numerically, high fidelity EC155B1 helicopter model and simplified flight control system that include actuator, digital processor and noise rejection filter was developed. A study conducts an analytical investigation of roll axis stability of the helicopter model as feedback gain increases. And this study analyzes roll-rate and roll-attitude feedback gains limited by rotor flap mode. The results indicate that the phase delays caused by the filter can severely limit the usable values of the roll-rate and roll-attitude feedback gains.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.41 no.7
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• pp.524-531
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• 2013

This work aims at developing a RTB (Rotor Track and Balance) system to alleviate imbalances originating from various sources encountered during blade manufacturing process and environmental factors. The analytical RTB model is determined based on the linear regression analysis to relate the RTB adjustment parameters and their track and vibration results. The model is validated using the flight test data of a full helicopter. It is demonstrated that the linearized model has been correlated well with the test data. A hybrid optimization problem is formulated to find the best solution of the RTB adjustment parameters using the genetic algorithm combined with the PSO (Particle Swarm Optimization) algorithm. The optimization results reveal that both track deviations and vibration levels under various flight conditions become decreased within the allowable tolerances.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.27 no.12
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• pp.41-47
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• 2010

There are many unbalanced models such as helicopter's rotor blades, small-sized precision motor in industrial applications. In the real products, their gravity center usually does not accord with the desired gravity center. If the deviation is large between them, it can be a major cause of vibration and noise as the part of model rotate. Therefore the gravity center in the rotational parts should be controlled properly because of static and dynamic balancing of the parts. In the research, the rotor blade of unmanned helicopter has been selected to obtain the high quality of balancing. In order to achieve the purpose, measuring system has been developed. In the system applied principle is three point weighting method, which is one of the Multiple-point Weighting Method. It has circle fitting for compensation of machining error, after measuring the values. From this study, the results showed that the proposed measurement procedure gives reliable and precise gravity center.

• Journal of Aerospace System Engineering
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.17-23
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• 2009

KARI SUAV (Smart Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) program is currently on the phase of ground and flight test. SUAV is a tilt rotor aircraft having the capability of vertical take-off/landing and high speed forward flight. The SUAV rotor system is 3-bladed, gimbaled hub type, which is not common for conventional helicopter configuration. In this paper, detailed procedure and method of rotor pitch rigging, tracking and balancing were described based on the experience of SUAV ground test.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society For Composite Materials Conference
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• 2002.05a
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• pp.173-176
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• 2002

This paper describes the design procedure of composite parts for hingeless hub system of helicopter. These composite parts are composed of flexure and sleeve. The design of this composite flexure is an important technique in hingeless hub system since the rotor system stability and dynamic characteristics depends on this flexure characteristics. The objective of this research is to replace the existing metal hub parts with composite to improve the performance and stability. First, the coupon test of candidate composite material for hub parts was conducted. The hub parts was designed based on test results and the manufacturing possibility by using Fiber Placement System(FPS) was checked. Also the dynamic analysis and stress analysis of composite hub parts was conducted. Through this research, we will find out the possibility of replacing existing metal hub parts with composite.