Engineering topics

Rich, M. J.

Publications and source records attributed to Rich, M. J..

11 records

NASA NTRS1985

Flight service evaluation of composite helicopter components

An assessment of composite helicopter structures, exposed to environmental effects, after four years of commercial service is presented. This assessment is supported by test results of helicopter components and test panels which have been exposed to environmental effects since late 1979. Full scale static and fatigue tests are being conducted on composite components obtained from S-76 helicopters in commercial operations in the Gulf Coast region of Louisiana. Small scale tests are being conducted on coupons obtained from panels being exposed to outdoor conditions in Stratford, Connecticut and West Palm Beach, Florida. The panel layups represent S-76 components. Moisture evaluations and strength tests are being conducted, on the S-76 components and panels, over a period of eight years. Results are discussed for components and panels with up to four years of exposure.

Rich, M. J.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Composite curved frames for helicopter fuselage structure

This paper presents the results of analysis and testing of composite curved frames. A major frame was selected from the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter and designed as a composite structure. The curved beam effects were expected to increase flange axial stresses and induce transverse bending. A NASTRAN finite element analysis was conducted and the results were used in the design of composite curved frame specimens. Three specimens were fabricated and five static tests were conducted. The NASTRAN analysis and test results are compared for axial, transverse, and Web strains. Results show the curved beam effects are closely predicted by a NASTRAN analysis and the effects increase with loading on the composite frames.

Rich, M. J.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Design, fabrication, installation and flight service evaluation of a composite cargo ramp skin on a model CH-53 helicopter

The installation of a composite skin panel on the cargo ramp of a CH-530 marine helicopter is discussed. The composite material is of Kevlar/Epoxy (K/E) which replaces aluminum outer skins on the aft two bays of the ramp. The cargo ramp aft region was selected as being a helicopter airframe surface subjected to possible significant field damage and would permit an evaluation of the long term durability of the composite skin panel. A structural analysis was performed and the skin shears determined. Single lap joints of K/E riveted to aluminum were statically tested. The joint tests were used to determine bearing allowables and the required K/E skin gage. The K/E skin panels riveted to aluminum edge members were tested in a shear fixture to confirm the allowable shear and bearing strengths. Impact tests were conducted on aluminum skin panels to determine energy level and damage relationship. The K/E skin panels of various ply orientations and laminate thicknesses were then impacted at similar energy levels. The results of the analysis and tests were used to determine the required K/E skin gages in each of the end two bays of the ramp.

Lowry, D. W.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Design, analysis and test of composite curved frames for helicopter fuselage structure

Curved beam effects in composite frame structures representative of a light helicopter airframe are examined, and currently available analytical methods for studying these effects are briefly reviewed. A finite element study of curved composite frames is then reported, and it is shown that the curved frame effects must be accurately accounted for to avoid premature fracture. The finite element method is shown to be accurate to within 10 percent in accounting for the curved beam effects in composite structures.

Rich, M. J.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Flight service evaluation of composite helicopter components

This first interim report presents the technical background for including environmental effects in the design of helicopter composite structures, and test results after approximately two year field exposure of components and panels. Composite structural components were removed from Sikorsky S-76 helicopters commercially operated in the Gulf Coast region of Louisiana. Fatigue tests were conducted for a graphite/epoxy tail rotor spar and static test for a graphite/epoxy and Kevlar/epoxy stabilizer. Graphite/epoxy and Kevlar/epoxy panels are being exposed to the outdoor environment in Stratford, Connecticut and West Palm Beach, Florida. For this reporting period the two year panels were returned, moisture measurements taken, and strength tests conducted. Results are compared with initial type certificate strengths for components and with initial laboratory coupon tests for the exposed panels. Comparisons are also presented with predicted and measured moisture contents.

Rich, M. J.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Flight service evaluation of composite helicopter components

Rich, M. J.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Design, fabrication and test of a complex helicopter airframe section

A design solution is developed for the fabrication of an all-composite helicopter airframe cabin roof structure. Although this is inherently a complex structure, the parts count has been minimized by the avoidance of many mechanical fasteners, and a weight reduction of 26% has been obtained. The reduction of parts and elimination of mechanical fasteners will also result in a lowering of labor costs. The bonded graphite/epoxy elements of the structure employed aluminum tooling with control on all mating surfaces to yield accurate bond lines. A summary of static test results is presented for the basic structure and for the structure with mechanically fastened skin stiffeners. It is shown that the shear buckles caused the skin to peel from the stiffeners at about 960 lb/in. shear flow, calling for the addition of stiffeners with more bond area.

Rich, M. J.↗

NASA NTRS1978

Finite element analysis of helicopter structures

Application of the finite element analysis is now being expanded to three dimensional analysis of mechanical components. Examples are presented for airframe, mechanical components, and composite structure calculations. Data are detailed on the increase of model size, computer usage, and the effect on reducing stress analysis costs. Future applications for use of finite element analysis for helicopter structures are projected.

Rich, M. J.↗

NASA NTRS1974

Application of advanced composites to helicopter airframe structures

The present work outlines a study whose objective was to assess the possible use of advanced composite materials to helicopter fuselage structure. The study used the CH-53D as a baseline design for comparison of composite with current conventional construction. Boron/epoxy and graphite/epoxy appeared to be the prime candidate materials for the major portion of the primary structure, while Kevlar-49/epoxy was the prime candidate material for secondary structure. A single-laminate shear-carrying skin combined with stringers and frames in an all-molded construction was considered the most promising concept for the airframe shell construction; foam-stabilized graphite/epoxy stringer was considered the prime concept for stringer construction. Shell construction and assembly concepts are discussed, and comparison of weight and material between current CH-53D airframe and the composite airframe shows that the latter may represent an 18% weight saving. Based on a fleet requirement of 600 vehicles, the operating cost for a fleet of helicopters constructed with the composite material airframe flying 500 hours a year per aircraft over a ten-year service life was calculated, indicating a $337,000 saving per helicopter.

Rich, M. J.↗

NASA NTRS1973

Application of composites to helicopter airframe and landing gear structures

A preliminary design study has indicated that advanced composite helicopter airframe structures can provide significant system cost advantages in the 1980's. A seven percent increase in productivity and a five percent reduction in life cycle cost are projected. Due to their complexity, landing gear structures do not substantially benefit from the use of advanced composites. The most successful concept was found to be all-molded composite modular panels, which provide integral skin/stringer and frame subassemblies. These subassemblies significantly reduce the number of parts relative to present construction. The subassemblies are mechanically jointed together for economical, rapid final assembly and permit field replacement in the event of major damage.

Rich, M. J.↗

NASA NTRS1972

Design, analysis, and test of a boron/epoxy reinforced airframe.

The airframe of a large helicopter generally requires additional stiffening for dynamic tuning to prevent resonance with the rotor vibratory forces. Investigations showed that aluminum stringers reinforced with boron/epoxy offered substantial weight saving for the CH54B Skycrane helicopter to achieve the required airframe stiffness. As a result, a program has been conducted under a NASA contract to design, test, and evaluate the static and fatigue strength characteristics of the composite reinforcement. The results of this phase of the effort will be reported in this paper.

Rich, M. J.↗