Engineering topics

Kottapalli, S. B. R.

Publications and source records attributed to Kottapalli, S. B. R..

6 records

NASA NTRS1985

Adaptation of a modern medium helicopter (Sikorsky S-76) to higher harmonic control

Sikorsky Aircraft has performed analytical studies, design analyses, and risk reduction tests have been performed for Higher Harmonic Control (HHC) on the S-76. The S-76 is an 8 to 10,000 lb helicopter which cruises at 145 kts. Flight test hardware has been assembled, main servo frequency response tested and upgraded, aircraft control system shake tested and verified, open loop controllers designed and fabricated, closed loop controllers defined and evaluated, and rotors turning ground and flight tests planned for the near future. Open loop analysis shows that about 2 deg of higher harmonic feathering at the blade 75% radius will be required to eliminate 4P vibration in the cockpit.

Oleary, J. J.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Coupled rotor/airframe vibration analysis

A coupled rotor/airframe vibration analysis developed as a design tool for predicting helicopter vibrations and a research tool to quantify the effects of structural properties, aerodynamic interactions, and vibration reduction devices on vehicle vibration levels is described. The analysis consists of a base program utilizing an impedance matching technique to represent the coupled rotor/airframe dynamics of the system supported by inputs from several external programs supplying sophisticated rotor and airframe aerodynamic and structural dynamic representation. The theoretical background, computer program capabilities and limited correlation results are presented in this report. Correlation results using scale model wind tunnel results show that the analysis can adequately predict trends of vibration variations with airspeed and higher harmonic control effects. Predictions of absolute values of vibration levels were found to be very sensitive to modal characteristics and results were not representative of measured values.

Sopher, R.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Coupled flap-lag-torsional dynamics of hingeless rotor blades in forward flight

The aeroelastic stability and response problem of the coupled flap-lag-torsional dynamics of an isolated hingeless rotor blade in forward flight is considered. Linear, quasi-steady aerodynamics below stall is included. The spatial dependence of the partial differential nonliner equations of motion is discretized using a multimodal Galerkin method. The nonlinear time dependent equilibrium position (steady state response) about which the equations are linearized is obtained by solving a sequence of linear periodic response problems (quasilinearization). Results illustrating blade behavior in forward flight for both soft-in-plane and stiff-in-plane designs are presented. Quasilinearization provides a clear indication of the cases when nonlinear terms due to moderate deflections are important. The results indicate that nonlinearities affect system stability much more than system response. This implies that for obtaining blade vibrations and loads, approximate analytical models based on linearized formulations could be employed, whereas for determining blade stability a more accurate nonlinear analysis would be required.

Friedmann, P. P.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Rotor blade aeroelastic stability and response in forward flight

The aeroelastic stability and response problem of the coupled flap-lag-torsional dynamics of a hingeless rotor blade in forward flight is treated in a comprehensive manner. The spatial dependence of the partial differential, nonlinear, equations of motion is discretized using a multimodal Galerkin method. The aeroelastic problem is coupled with the trim state of the helicopter obtained from improved, representative, trim procedures. The nonlinear time dependent equilibrium position, or response, about which the equations are linearized is obtained by solving a sequence of linear periodic response problems, using quasi-linearization. Numerous results illustrating blade behavior in forward flight are presented.

Friedmann, P. P.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Aeroelastic stability and response of horizontal axis wind turbine blades

Coupled flap-lag-torsion equations of motion of an isolated horizontal axis wind turbine (HAWT) blade have been formulated. The analysis neglects blade-tower coupling. The final nonlinear equations have periodic coefficients. A new and convenient method of generating an appropriate time-dependent equilibrium position, required for the stability analysis, has been implemented and found to be computationally efficient. Steady-state response and stability boundaries for an existing (typical) HAWT blade are presented. Such stability boundaries have never been published in the literature. The results show that the isolated blade under study is basically stable. The tower shadow (wake) has a considerable effect on the out-of-plane response but leaves blade stability unchanged. Nonlinear terms can significantly affect linearized stability boundaries; however, they have a negligible effect on response, thus implying that a time-dependent equilibrium position (or steady-state response), based completely on the linear system, is appropriate for the type of HAWT blades under study.

Kottapalli, S. B. R.↗

NASA NTRS1978

Aeroelastic stability and response of horizontal axis wind turbine blades

The coupled flap-lag-torsion equations of motion of an isolated horizontal axis wind turbine blade are formulated. Quasi-steady blade-element strip theory was applied to derive the aerodynamic operator which includes boundary layer type gradient winds. The final equations which have periodic coefficients were solved in order to obtain the aeroelastic response and stability of large horizontal axis wind turbine blade. A new method of generating an appropriate time-dependent equilibrium position (required for the stability analysis) has been implemented. Representative steady-state responses and stability boundaries, applicable mainly to an existing blade design (NASA/-ERDA MOD-0), are presented. The results indicate that the MOD-0 configuration is a basically stable design and that blade stability is not sensitive to offsets between blade elastic axis and aerodynamic center. Blade stability appears to be sensitive to precone. The tower shadow (or wake) has a considerable effect on the flap response but leaves blade stability unchanged. Finally, it was found that non linear terms in the equations of motion can significantly affect the linearized stability boundaries, however, these terms have a negligible effect on blade response at operating conditions.

Kottapalli, S. B. R.↗