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The Art of the Helicopter John Watkinson - Karatunov.net

The Art of the Helicopter John Watkinson - Karatunov.net

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150 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Art</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Helicopter</strong><br />

impedance is used in electronics to construct oscillators. <strong>The</strong> criterion for this to happen<br />

is that <strong>the</strong> whirling must be both progressive and backwards. Given that <strong>the</strong> system is<br />

unstable in this mode, an undamped rotor can spontaneously display ground resonance.<br />

In <strong>the</strong> absence <strong>of</strong> preventive measures, a helicopter on <strong>the</strong> ground with progressive<br />

backward rotor whirling is a mechanical oscillator. Given <strong>the</strong> huge amount <strong>of</strong> energy<br />

stored in <strong>the</strong> rotor, once started <strong>the</strong> whirling will increase in amplitude until something<br />

breaks. Hull rocking resonance can only occur if <strong>the</strong>re is a reaction from <strong>the</strong> ground,<br />

hence <strong>the</strong> name <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> phenomenon. This also explains why a machine can fly safely<br />

but disintegrate on landing, as has happened on a number <strong>of</strong> occasions.<br />

<strong>The</strong>re are a number <strong>of</strong> solutions to ground resonance which will be explored. It will<br />

be seen from a consideration <strong>of</strong> Figure 4.29 that damping any changes in <strong>the</strong> angle θ will<br />

be highly effective hence <strong>the</strong> use <strong>of</strong> dragging dampers in <strong>the</strong> traditional fully articulated<br />

rotor head. In many cases damping is provided in <strong>the</strong> undercarriage to dissipate landing<br />

impacts and this damping can augment but not replace <strong>the</strong> damping in <strong>the</strong> head.<br />

In modern helicopters employing damping, ground resonance is virtually unknown<br />

provided <strong>the</strong> dampers are kept in good order. <strong>The</strong>se dampers may be hydraulic, similar<br />

to automobile dampers, which work by forcing oil through a small orifice, or elastomeric,<br />

which work by dissipating heat in hysteretic flexing. <strong>The</strong> latter have <strong>the</strong> advantage<br />

<strong>of</strong> needing no maintenance. Oil filled dampers will lose effectiveness if <strong>the</strong> oil leaks.<br />

Given <strong>the</strong> destructive nature <strong>of</strong> ground resonance, it is a good idea to examine <strong>the</strong><br />

dampers as part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> pre-flight inspection. By moving <strong>the</strong> blade on its dragging<br />

hinge, <strong>the</strong> resistance <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> damper can be felt and <strong>the</strong> oil can be heard rushing through<br />

<strong>the</strong> damping orifice. All <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> blades should feel and sound <strong>the</strong> same. If one blade<br />

feels different <strong>the</strong> damper may have some air in it. As <strong>the</strong> air is forced through <strong>the</strong><br />

damping orifice <strong>the</strong> sound will change. Whilst one weak damper may not cause ground<br />

resonance, it may result in an increase in vibration in forward flight. It is also useful to<br />

learn <strong>the</strong> characteristics <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> machine’s padding on start-up. If <strong>the</strong> rotor dampers are<br />

satisfactory, but <strong>the</strong>re is unusual padding, <strong>the</strong> undercarriage oleos may need attention.<br />

A smoo<strong>the</strong>r rotor start may result if all <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> blades are first moved to <strong>the</strong>ir rearward<br />

damper travel limit. Unusual padding may also result if <strong>the</strong> machine is parked on a slope<br />

when gravity will tend to take <strong>the</strong> blades out <strong>of</strong> pattern during <strong>the</strong> early stages <strong>of</strong> starting.<br />

Figure 4.30 shows an interference diagram or Coleman diagram for an articulated<br />

rotor. K1 = 0 and <strong>the</strong> dragging frequency is small in relation to <strong>the</strong> rotor speed. Thus<br />

<strong>the</strong> rotor speed always overcomes <strong>the</strong> backward whirling and so all <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> frequencies<br />

Fig. 4.30 An interference diagram for an articulated rotor. <strong>The</strong> dragging frequencies fan out above and below<br />

<strong>the</strong> rotor frequency. Both are progressive but one is backward.

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