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At least 163 records · Page 9

A summary of wind tunnel research on tilt-rotors from hover to cruise flight

An experimental research program conducted on a series of tilt rotors designed for a range of blades twist is reported. The test facilities used in the program are identified. The objective of the program was to obtain precise results on the influence of blades twist and aeroelasticity on tilt rotor performance from hover to high speed cruise Mach number to 0.7. Five aluminum rigid rotors and one fiber glass composite rotor were tested.

Poisson-Quinton, PH.↗

V/STOL tilt rotor aircraft study. Volume 1: Conceptual design of useful military and/or commercial aircraft

The conceptual designs of four useful tilt-rotor aircraft for the 1975 to 1980 time period are presented. Parametric studies leading to design point selection are described, and the characteristics and capabilities of each configuration are presented. An assessment is made of current technology status, and additional tilt-rotor research programs are recommended to minimize the time, cost, and risk of development of these vehicles.

Source record↗

V/STOL tilt rotor aircraft study. Volume 2: Preliminary design of research aircraft

A preliminary design study was conducted to establish a minimum sized, low cost V/STOL tilt-rotor research aircraft with the capability of performing proof-of-concept flight research investigations applicable to a wide range of useful military and commercial configurations. The analysis and design approach was based on state-of-the-art methods and maximum use of off-the-shelf hardware and systems to reduce development risk, procurement cost and schedules impact. The rotors to be used are of 26 foot diameter and are the same as currently under construction and test as part of NASA Tilt-Rotor Contract NAS2-6505. The aircraft has a design gross weight of 12,000 lbs. The proposed engines to be used are Lycoming T53-L-13B rated at 1550 shaft horsepower which are fully qualified. A flight test investigation is recommended which will determine the capabilities and limitations of the research aircraft.

Source record↗

Guidance for a tilt rotor VTOL aircraft during takeoff and landing

A perturbation guidance scheme is developed to keep a tilt-rotor VTOL aircraft close to a predetermined nominal flight path during take-off and landing. A simulation of the guidance scheme applied to the Bell Model 266 tilt-rotor VTOL gave satisfactory behavior in the presence of initial errors and wind disturbances.

Gupta, N. K.↗

V/STOL tilt rotor aircraft study. Volume 5: Definition of stowed rotor research aircraft

The results of a study of folding tilt rotor (stowed rotor) aircraft are presented. The effects of design cruise speed on the gross weight of a conceptual design stowed rotor aircraft are shown and a comparison is made with a conventional (non-folding) tilt rotor aircraft. A flight research stowed rotor design is presented. The program plans, including costs and schedules, are shown for the research aircraft development and a wind tunnel plan is presented for a full scale test of the aircraft.

Soule, V. A.↗

Noise reduction of a tilt-rotor aircraft including effects on weight and performance

Various methods for far-field noise reduction of a tilt-rotor acoustic signature and the performance and weight tradeoffs which result from modification of the noise sources are considered in this report. In order to provide a realistic approach for the investigation, the Boeing tilt-rotor flight research aircraft (Model 222), was selected as the baseline. This aircraft has undergone considerable engineering development. Its rotor has been manufactured and tested in the Ames full-scale wind tunnel. The study reflects the current state-of-the-art of aircraft design for far-field acoustic signature reduction and is not based solely on an engineering feasibility aircraft. This report supplements a previous study investigating reduction of noise signature through the management of the terminal flight trajectory.

Gibs, J.↗

Aeroelastic-stability characteristics of a V/STOL tilt-rotor aircraft with hingeless blades - Correlation of analysis and test

The potential aeroelastic problems of a tilt rotor aircraft are described. The type of mathematical model required to predict such behavior is discussed and results of a design study on a specific configuration are presented. The sensitivity of the results to variation of the structural parameters is evaluated. The methodology used for analytical studies is shown to predict accurately the behavior of a full-scale rotor-pylon-wing system tested in the NASA-Ames 40- by 80-foot wind tunnel. It is concluded that there is no impediment from an aeroelastic viewpoint in designing and flying a tilt-rotor aircraft using a soft-in-plane hingeless rotor.

Alexander, H. R.↗

The cost of noise reduction in commercial tilt rotor aircraft

The relationship between direct operating cost (DOC) and departure noise annoyance was developed for commercial tilt rotor aircraft. This was accomplished by generating a series of tilt rotor aircraft designs to meet various noise goals at minimum DOC. These vehicles were spaced across the spectrum of possible noise levels from completely unconstrained to the quietest vehicle that could be designed within the study ground rules. A group of optimization parameters were varied to find the minimum DOC while other inputs were held constant and some external constraints were met. This basic variation was then extended to different aircraft sizes and technology time frames. It was concluded that reducing noise annoyance by designing for lower rotor tip speeds is a very promising avenue for future research and development. It appears that the cost of halving the annoyance compared to an unconstrained design is insignificant and the cost of halving the annoyance again is small.

Faulkner, H. B.↗

Effect of number of lobes and length-diameter ratio on stability of tilted-lobe hydrodynamic journal bearings at zero load

Hydrodynamic journal stability tests were conducted with tilted-lobe bearings. The bearings had three, five, and seven lobes and length to diameter (L/D) ratios from 0.2 to 1.0. They were tested in water and MIL-L-7808G oil at 294 K (70 F) at speeds to 5400 rpm with zero load. Stability was not appreciably affected by the number of lobes and decreased with a decrease in L/D ratio. However, a three-tilted-lobe bearing with an offset factor of 0.76 and an L/D of 0.5 was more stable than a three centrally lobed bearing with an offset factor of 0.50 and an L/D of 1.0.

Schuller, F. T.↗

Comparison of 70 deg tilt, LBNP, and passive standing as measures of orthostatic tolerance

The present study was performed to assess the reliability of lower body negative pressure (LBNP) as a test of orthostatic tolerance. The need for this assessment arose from the prior observation in this laboratory that some subjects show wide day-to-day variation in heart rate responses to LBNP. The extent of these variations was so great as to raise a serious question as to the value of LBNP as a measure of study-induced alterations (e.g., those produced by bedrest or weightlessness) in orthostatic tolerance. Five healthy volunteers were subjected to a series of tests, consisting of 70 deg tilt, LBNP, and passive standing, on three occasions preceding and three occasions following a 2-week period of bedrest. Study results show that it is possible to subdivide the volunteers into subgroups which show either great or little day-to-day variability in any of the three tests. All three tests revealed bedrest-induced alterations in orthostatic tolerance quite adequately. Of the three tests studied, LBNP most frequently resulted in the largest test-induced heart rate alterations, followed by quiet standing and, finally 70 deg tilt.

Hyatt, K. H.↗

Optimal control alleviation of tilting proprotor gust response

Optimal control theory is applied to the design of a control system for alleviation of the gust response of tilting proprotor aircraft. Using a proprotor and cantilever wing analytical model, the uncontrolled and controlled gust response is examined over the entire operating range of the aircraft except for hover: helicopter mode, conversion, and airplane mode flight. Substantial improvements in the loads, ride quality, and aeroelastic stability are possible with a properly designed controller. A single controller, nominally optimal only at the design point speed (160 knots here), operated efficiently over the entire speed range, with the possible exception of very low speed in helicopter mode. Kalman-Bucy filters were used as compensation networks to provide state estimates from various measurements in the wing motion, rotor speed perturbation, and tip-path-plane tilt.

Johnson, W.↗

Aerodynamic characteristics of a powered tilt-proprotor wind tunnel model

An investigation was conducted in the Langley V/STOL tunnel to determine the performance, stability and control, and rotor-wake interaction effects of a powered tilt-proprotor aircraft model with gimbal-hub rotors. Tests were conducted at representative flight conditions for hover, helicopter, transition, and airplane flight. Force and moment data were obtained for the complete model and for each of the two rotors. In addition to wind-speed variation, the angle of attack, angle of sideslip, rotor speed, rotor collective pitch, longitudinal cyclic pitch, rotor pylon angle, and configuration geometry were varied. The results, presented in graphical form, are available in tabular form to facilitate the validation of analytical methods of defining the aerodynamic characteristics of tilt-proprotor configurations.

Wilson, J. C.↗

Wind Tunnel Test Results of 25 Foot Tilt Rotor During Autorotation

A 25 foot diameter tilt rotor was tested in the 40 by 80 foot large scale wind tunnel. The test confirmed the predicted autorotation capability of the XV-15 tilt rotor aircraft. Autorotations were made at 60, 80, and 100 knots. A limited evaluation of lateral cyclic was made. Test data indicate a minimum rate of descent of 2,200 feet per minute at 60 knots at the XV-15 design gross weight of 13,000 pounds.

Marr, R. L.↗

Predicted dynamic characteristics of the XV-15 tilting proprotor aircraft in flight and in the 40- by 80-ft. wind tunnel

Pretest predictions of the dynamic characteristics of the XV-15 tilting proprotor aircraft are presented. The data for the aircraft in flight include: trim conditions, flight dynamics, gust response, aeroelastic stability and the wing response to control. The data for the aircraft in the Ames 40- by 80-ft wind tunnel include aeroelastic stability and the wing response to control. The calculations were made for pylon tilt angles of 0 deg (airplane mode), 0.1 deg (pylon unlocked), 30, 60, and 90 deg (helicopter mode).

Johnson, W.↗

Preliminary simulation of an advanced, hingless rotor XV-15 tilt-rotor aircraft

The feasibility of the tilt-rotor concept was verified through investigation of the performance, stability and handling qualities of the XV-15 tilt rotor. The rotors were replaced by advanced-technology fiberglass/composite hingless rotors of larger diameter, combined with an advanced integrated fly-by-wire control system. A parametric simulation model of the HRXV-15 was developed, model was used to define acceptable preliminary ranges of primary and secondary control schedules as functions of the flight parameters, to evaluate performance, flying qualities and structural loads, and to have a Boeing-Vertol pilot conduct a simulated flight test evaluation of the aircraft.

Mcveigh, M. A.↗

The 64-meter antenna pedestal tilt at DSS 43, Tidbinbilla, Australia

The present and possible future effects of pedestal tilt at the deep space tracking station are discussed. Topics include causes of the tilt, its amplitude and rate of change, and the method of measurement used. The degree of confidence in the measurements made is also examined.

Gale, G.↗

Optimal control alleviation of tilting proprotor gust response

Optimal control theory is applied to the design of a control system for alleviation of the gust response of tilting proprotor aircraft. Using a proprotor and cantilever wing analytical model, the uncontrolled and controlled gust response is examined over the entire operating range of the aircraft except for hover: helicopter mode, conversion, and airplane mode flight. Substantial improvements in the loads, ride quality, and aeroelastic stability are possible with a properly designed controller. A single controller, nominally optimal only at the design point speed (160 knots here), operated efficiently over the entire speed range, with the possible exception of very low speed in helicopter mode. Kalman-Bucy filters were used as compensation networks to provide state estimates from various measurements in the system. Efficient control requires the measurement of the wing motion, rotor speed perturbation, and tip-path-plane tilt.

Johnson, W.↗

The tilt effect for Saturn's rings

Multiple-scattering computations are carried out to explain the variation of the observed brightness of the A and B rings of Saturn with declination of the earth and sun. These computations are performed by a doubling scheme for a homogeneous plane-parallel scattering medium. A range of choices is tested for the phase function, albedo for single scattering, and optical depth of both the rings. Isotropic scattering and several other simple phase functions are ruled out, and it is found that the phase function must be moderately peaked in both the forward and backward directions. The tilt effect can be explained by multiple scattering in a homogeneous layer, but, for ring B, this requires a single-scattering albedo in excess of 0.8. The brightest part of ring B must have an optical depth greater than 0.9. It is found that the tilt effect for ring A can be reproduced by particles having the same properties as those in ring B with the optical depth for the A ring in the range 0.4 to 0.6.

Esposito, L. W.↗