Simulation of the Free Flying Helicopter by Coupling of a New Comprehensive Aeromechanics Code with an Advanced Flexible Multibody Model

Abstract

For the validation of rotor blade designs a multibody system model of a helicopter with main rotor - tail rotor configuration has been set up and coupled with a new comprehensive aeromechanics code. The structural flexibility of the rotor blades is taken into account by geometrically nonlinear composite beam descriptions. Dynamic effects important for helicopter applications have been successfully validated for this beam representation. Both new components, the aeromechanics code and the composite beam model enable system simulation models with low dimensionality and therefore simulations within a short time frame. Attention has also been paid to the workflows, which allow an easy creation and modification of the helicopter model including the rotor blades. The behavior of the coupled simulation model is compared to flight test data