Journal of Aircraft最新文献

This paper presents a stochastic approach for modeling the turbulent airwake suitable for real-time simulation of the helicopter–ship dynamic interface. This approach relies on the measurements of unsteady loads collected during a wind-tunnel test campaign with a scaled helicopter operating over the deck of simple frigate shape 1. Power spectral densities of the measured aerodynamic loads combined with the estimated frequency response functions are used to find, through an optimization algorithm, a model of airwake spectra over the range of frequencies which mainly affects the pilot workload during shipboard operations. Then, a set of autoregressive filters is designed for every particular rotor position and wind-over-deck condition, so that when driven by white noise, the spectrum of the output will reproduce those obtained from the optimization. This approach is applied to three different tested wind directions and three rotor positions by implementing the autoregressive filters into the multibody model of the experimental rotor. Frequency response analysis of the aerodynamic loads demonstrates that the turbulent airwake model obtained from the experimental data can predict the unsteadiness of loads comparable to those measured in the wind tunnel across the bandwidth of interest for pilot activities. The identified airwake models could be applied to a full-scale model to simulate the unsteady loads effectively experienced by the helicopter during a ship landing flight.

An airfoil design framework is introduced in which boundary-layer integral parameters serve as the driving design mechanism. The method consists of generating a parameterized pressure distribution capable of producing the desired boundary-layer characteristics for inverse design use. Additionally, by deduction from the Squire–Young theory, the method allows for the determination of the pressure distribution that results in the minimum theoretical drag. To assess this design framework, several airfoils were developed based on the mission requirements of the RQ-4B Global Hawk aircraft. Numerical results obtained using a viscous-inviscid solver of the integral boundary layer and Euler equations showed that the optimized airfoils achieved profile drag reductions of 9.06 and 6.00%, respectively, for $\alpha =0°$ and $L/D_{\max }$ design points. A validation experimental campaign was also performed using the optimized CA5427-72 airfoil. The acquired data produced the expected pressure distribution characteristics and aerodynamic performance improvements, typifying the efficacy of the design framework.

High-speed stability of tiltrotor was studied. The University of Maryland’s Maryland Tiltrotor Rig (MTR) was chosen for the analysis due to availability of properties and test data, and its interesting high-stability behavior observed in the Glenn L. Martin wind tunnel in August 2022. A Rotorcraft Comprehensive Analysis System (RCAS) model of the MTR gimbaled hub was built in addition to the University of Maryland Advanced Rotorcraft Code-II (UMARC-II) model from previous work. The objective is threefold: i) validate RCAS tiltrotor stability predictions, ii) shed light on the high-stability behavior of the MTR, and iii) find ways to lower the instability speed of the MTR for future wind tunnel tests. Trim collective for freewheeling and stability predictions were compared with wind tunnel test data up to 200 knots. RCAS and UMARC-II predictions showed good agreement with each other and the test data. Predictions show that MTR is stable up to 215 knots (490-knots full-scale flight) although the wing is only 18% thick (current technology is 23%). A parametric study was carried out. The impact of wing stiffness, pitch-flap coupling (${\delta }_3$ angle), lag stiffness, blade chord, number of blades, pylon mass, pylon center of gravity (c.g.), pylon location, and rotor speed was studied. MTR’s pylon c.g. is unconventionally behind the wing elastic axis. It was found that this significantly improved stability. This behavior is not specific to MTR; full-scale aircraft stability can also be improved by moving the pylon c.g. backward if wing beam is the least stable mode. A combination of forward pylon c.g., reduced rotor speed, and increased blade chord reduced the instability speed by more than 55 knots to near 160 knots, helping researchers obtain high-quality test data in the upcoming Glenn L. Martin wind tunnel tests.

Traditional flight simulation models often operate on the premise of a steady atmosphere, overlooking the complexities of actual atmospheric dynamics and the flight safety risks posed by wind disturbances, such as turbulence. To Address this oversight, the present study introduces a method for generating three-dimensional atmospheric turbulence based on spatial correlation functions. This method, rigorously validated against correlation and spectral benchmarks, guarantees isotropic properties in the synthesized turbulence fields. Through interpolation techniques, the model integrates the spatial atmospheric turbulence into the flight simulation framework effectively. The paper highlights the application of this model by examining the impact of atmospheric turbulence on the precise flight dynamics of quadcopter UAVs during aerial refueling operations. The findings demonstrate the model’s pertinence not only to UAVs but also to the broader spectrum of aircraft and their operational procedures.