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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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2<br />

Technical background<br />

This chapter provides an introduction to concepts that will be needed to follow <strong>the</strong><br />

technical explanations in <strong>the</strong> rest <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> book.<br />

2.1 Introduction to mechanics<br />

Mechanics is <strong>the</strong> study <strong>of</strong> how objects interact with <strong>the</strong> forces applied to <strong>the</strong>m. Designers<br />

are concerned with resisting <strong>the</strong> forces generated in flight so that <strong>the</strong> machine stays<br />

intact. Using <strong>the</strong> controls <strong>of</strong> a helicopter <strong>the</strong> pilot changes <strong>the</strong> forces applied to it and<br />

<strong>the</strong>reby determines <strong>the</strong> path it takes. It is important for a pilot to understand some<br />

mechanics so that he can predict what control movements will be necessary to make<br />

<strong>the</strong> machine do what is wanted. When this happens, <strong>the</strong> pilot is said to be in control.<br />

Any o<strong>the</strong>r situation is not recommended.<br />

2.2 Mass and density<br />

<strong>The</strong> amount <strong>of</strong> matter in a body is specified by its mass, measured in pounds (lb) or<br />

kilograms (kg). Since <strong>the</strong> amount <strong>of</strong> matter in a body cannot readily change, <strong>the</strong> mass<br />

is <strong>the</strong> same wherever <strong>the</strong> body is and however it moves. <strong>The</strong> density <strong>of</strong> a substance is<br />

<strong>the</strong> mass <strong>of</strong> unit volume. In <strong>the</strong> old imperial units, density was expressed as pounds<br />

per cubic foot. In <strong>the</strong> SI system, <strong>the</strong> term ‘relative density’ is used, where water has a<br />

relative density <strong>of</strong> one.<br />

2.3 Force and acceleration<br />

Weight is <strong>the</strong> force a body exerts on its supports. In orbit, objects have no supports:<br />

<strong>the</strong>y are weightless. Back on earth <strong>the</strong> gravitational field pulls <strong>the</strong>m down and <strong>the</strong>y<br />

have weight. Weight is equal to mass multiplied by <strong>the</strong> strength <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> gravitational<br />

field. This is why astronauts can bounce around on <strong>the</strong> moon; gravity is much weaker<br />

<strong>the</strong>re. Since <strong>the</strong> strength <strong>of</strong> gravity doesn’t change much from one place on earth<br />

to ano<strong>the</strong>r, earthlings tend to buy things by weight not by mass, and <strong>of</strong>ten confuse<br />

<strong>the</strong> two.<br />

All real objects, helicopters included, have <strong>the</strong>ir mass distributed over <strong>the</strong>ir dimensions.<br />

Whilst each part has its own mass, for some purposes this can be replaced by a<br />

single mass located at <strong>the</strong> centre <strong>of</strong> mass (CM) (Figure 2.1(a)). <strong>The</strong> older term centre

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