Smart actuation mechanisms for helicopter blades : design case for a Mach-scaled model blade

TL;DRAbstract

This work is part of the European project “Clean Sky”, which aims at improving the efficiency and the global transport quality of aircraft. The research, in this project, is currently focussing on active flap systems for helicopters to adapt the blade aerodynamic properties to local aerodynamic conditions. Fuel-efficiency, reduction of vibration and noise and increase of the helicopter maximum speed are the expected benefits. To validate this technology, numerical studies and wind-tunnel testing on reduced-scale rotor blades are necessary. This thesis investigates the selection process for actuators, the methods to design and optimise actuation systems and the procedures to validate them through simulations and testing. These methods are applied to the design of an actuation system to fold and deploy a Gurney flap for a Mach-scaled rotor blade. Integrating an actuation system in helicopters is especially difficult because of a combination of challenges: tremendous loads are caused due

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