Basic Helicopter Aerodynamics

Second Edition

An account of first principles in the fluid mechanics and flight dynamics of the single rotor helicopter

J. Seddon
PhD, DSc, CEng, CFF, FRAeS

and

Simon Newman
MSc (Eng), PhD, CEng, MRAeS, FIMA, CMath

Blackwell Science

Contents

Preface to First Edition Preface to Second Edition Notation List Units List of Abbreviations Chapter 1: Introduction Chapter 2: Rotor in Vertical Flight: Momentum Theory and Wake Analysis 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 2.10 Momentum theory for hover Figure of merit Momentum theory for vertical climb Vertical descent Complete induced-velocity curve Autorotation Summary remarks on momentum theory Complexity of real wake Wake analysis methods Ground effect

ix xiii xv xix xxi 1 13 13 17 18 20 24 25 26 26 30 31 35 35 40

Chapter 3: Rotor in Vertical Flight: Blade Element Theory 3.1 3.2 Basic method Thrust approximations

vi

Contents

3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8

Non-uniform inflow Ideal twist Blade mean lift coefficient Power approximations Tip loss Example of hover characteristics

41 42 45 46 48 50 51 51 58 60 69 73 73 76 77 77 80 82 84 86 89 93 93 94 99 102 107 111 112 119 flight 119 121

Chapter 4: Rotor Mechanisms for Forward Flight 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 The edgewise rotor Flapping motion Rotor control Equivalence of flapping and feathering

Chapter 5: Rotor Aerodynamics in Forward Flight 5.1 5.2 5.3 Momentum theory Wake analysis Blade element theory Factors involved Thrust In-plane H force Torque and power Flapping coefficients Typical numerical values

Chapter 6: Aerodynamic Design 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 Introductory Blade section design Blade tip shapes Parasite drag Rear fuselage upsweep Higher harmonic control Aerodynamic design process

Chapter 7: Performance 7.1 7.2 Introductory Hover and vertical

Contents

vii

7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 7.7 7.8 7.9 7.10 7.11

Forward level flight Climb in forward flight Optimum speeds Maximum level speed Rotor limits envelope Accurate performance prediction A world speed record Speculation on the really-low-drag helicopter An exercise in high-altitude operation

123 126 127 128 128 130 131 132 136 141 141 145 146 146 147 148 148 149 149 149 149 150 151 152 155 157

Chapter 8: Trim, Stability and Control 8.1 8.2 8.3 Trim Treatment of stability and control Static stability Incidence disturbance Forward speed disturbance Angular velocity (pitch or roll rate) disturbance Sideslip disturbance Yawing disturbance General conclusion Dynamic stability Analytical process Special case of hover Hingeless rotor Control Autostabilization

8.4

8.5 8.6 8.7 Index