20.01.2013 Views

The Art of the Helicopter John Watkinson - Karatunov.net

The Art of the Helicopter John Watkinson - Karatunov.net

The Art of the Helicopter John Watkinson - Karatunov.net

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

Rotors in practice 145<br />

Fig. 4.25 Blade dragging is characterized by Southwell’s coefficients which describe <strong>the</strong> static and centrifugal<br />

components <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> restoring force. (a) In <strong>the</strong> articulated rotor, <strong>the</strong>re is no static stiffness. <strong>The</strong> dragging frequency<br />

is a fraction <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> rotor frequency. (b) In <strong>the</strong> hingeless rotor <strong>the</strong>re is static stiffness so <strong>the</strong>re is a finite resonant<br />

frequency even at zero RRPM. As RRPM increases, centrifugal stiffening dominates and <strong>the</strong> frequency becomes<br />

asymptotic to what it would have been for a hinged blade with <strong>the</strong> same mass distribution.<br />

frequency becomes asymptotic to what it would have been with no structural stiffness.<br />

As a result <strong>the</strong> dragging frequency is no longer proportional to RRPM.<br />

It should be appreciated that in <strong>the</strong> above discussion and in Figures 4.24 and 4.25 <strong>the</strong><br />

dragging frequency is with respect to <strong>the</strong> turning rotor, not with respect to stationary<br />

co-ordinates. Frequencies experienced at <strong>the</strong> hull will be in stationary co-ordinates and<br />

will be different from <strong>the</strong> frequency discussed here.<br />

4.17 Ground resonance<br />

Given <strong>the</strong> flexible nature <strong>of</strong> rotors, it is possible for <strong>the</strong> centres <strong>of</strong> mass <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> blades to<br />

get ‘out-<strong>of</strong>-pattern’ as shown in Figure 4.26. This is <strong>the</strong> term describing <strong>the</strong> condition<br />

where <strong>the</strong> blades are not evenly spaced around <strong>the</strong> disc. This may be due to an external<br />

influence such as <strong>the</strong> impact <strong>of</strong> a run-on landing or starting <strong>the</strong> rotor on a slope. It may<br />

also be self-excited.<br />

Section 4.16 considered <strong>the</strong> resonant dragging motion <strong>of</strong> a single blade, whereas<br />

in practice it is necessary to consider <strong>the</strong> phase relationship from blade to blade.<br />

Figure 4.27 shows some possibilities for a three-bladed rotor. Rotors with more blades<br />

will also behave in <strong>the</strong> same way except that <strong>the</strong>re are more phases <strong>of</strong> blade motion. Twobladed<br />

rotors have different characteristics, but because such rotors seldom employ<br />

dragging hinges <strong>the</strong>se differences will not be enlarged here.<br />

It must be stressed that throughout Figure 4.27 <strong>the</strong> diagrams are in rotating<br />

co-ordinates so that <strong>the</strong> rotor appears to be stopped. Figure 4.27(a) shows <strong>the</strong> case<br />

where, for example, a sudden increase in drive torque has caused all <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> blades to<br />

drag back by <strong>the</strong> same amount. <strong>The</strong>y will all resonate in <strong>the</strong> same phase and <strong>the</strong> result<br />

is that <strong>the</strong> CM <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> rotor is undisturbed. Figure 4.27(b) shows <strong>the</strong> case where <strong>the</strong>re is<br />

a120 ◦ phase difference between <strong>the</strong> motion <strong>of</strong> each blade. Now <strong>the</strong> centre <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> rotor<br />

hub is moving in a circle. <strong>The</strong> motion may be visualized by considering <strong>the</strong> operation<br />

<strong>of</strong> a three-cylinder radial engine.

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!