Quad Tilt Rotor Download and Power Measurements in Ground Effect

Author(s):  
Anand Radhakrishnan ◽  
Fredric Schmitz
2015 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anand Radhakrishnan Mylapore ◽  
Fredric H. Schmitz

The performance of a 0.031 geometrically scaled fuselage/wing model of a Quad Tilt Rotor (QTR) operating in helicopter mode while hovering in-ground effect (IGE) and out-of-ground effect (OGE) was experimentally studied. The effect of ground proximity was tested by varying the height of the model above the ground. Measurements included download on the airframe; thrust, torque, and rpm of the rotors; and static pressures along the centerline of the bottom of the fuselage. Fixedpitch propellers were used to model the rotors. The downwash distributions of the rotors were measured and compared well with large-scale V-22 rotor measurements. Tuft flow visualization was used to identify the physical processes causing changes in the download and static pressure measurements. The uncertainty of the measured quantities was determined to 95% confidence levels. A significant download (9 ± 0.5% of the rotor thrust) was observed in hover, OGE. The download reduced substantially IGE and become an upload (8.5 ± 0.5% of the rotor thrust) when the wheels of the QTR were on the ground. Flow visualization and pressure measurements suggest that the upload IGE is caused by the interaction of the wakes from the four rotors that are turned parallel to the ground and meet under the fuselage. The measured download, coupled with power measurements, indicate that for a given power the available vehicle thrust significantly increases IGE.


Author(s):  
Kun Chen ◽  
Zhiwei Shi ◽  
Shengxiang Tong ◽  
Yizhang Dong ◽  
Jie Chen

There is an obvious aerodynamic interference problem that occurs for a quad tilt rotor in near-ground hovering or in the conversion operating condition. This paper presents an aerodynamic interference test of the quad tilt rotor in a wind tunnel. A 1:35 scale model of the quad tilt rotor is used in this test. To substitute for the ground, a moveable platform is designed in a low-speed open-loop wind tunnel to simulate different flight altitudes of the quad tilt rotor in hovering or forward flight. A rod six-component force balance is used to measure the loads on the aircraft, and the flow field below the airframe is captured using particle image velocimetry. The experimental results show that the ground effect is significant when the hover height above the ground is less than the rotor diameter of the quad tilt rotor aircraft, and the maximum upload of the airframe is approximately 12% of the total vertical thrust with the appearance of obvious fountain flow. During the conversion operating condition, the upload of the airframe is reduced compared with that in the hovering state, which is affected by rotor wake and incoming flow. The aerodynamic interference test results of the quad tilt rotor aircraft have important reference value in power system selection, control system design, and carrying capacity improvement with the advantage of ground effect.


Author(s):  
Jinhe Chen ◽  
Zhengzhong Wang ◽  
Hongyuan Tian

Aiming at simulating the hurdle-hop of tilt-rotor aircraft in forward flight near the ground, two models of numerical simulation and analysis based on optimal control theory were proposed. Firstly, Longitudinal flight dynamic model for tilt-rotor was modified considering the influence of ground effect. Secondly, the first model is combined with predicted trajectory from inverse simulation method, the inverse model of hurdle-hop of tilt-rotor is established based on optimal trajectory, and the second model is the optimal control model of unpredicted trajectory, which is formulated from the reasonable function of objective, path and boundary constraints for hurdle-hop with detailed analysis, solved two models by direct multiple shooting method and nonlinear programming algorithm. Finally, XV-15 as the sample vehicle. Two models for hurdle-hop based on optimal control theory was calculated, the history of optimal flight trajectory and control are given.


1985 ◽  
Vol 46 (C2) ◽  
pp. C2-303-C2-305
Author(s):  
R. S. Raymond ◽  
K. A. Brown ◽  
R. J. Bruni ◽  
P. R. Cameron ◽  
D. G. Crabb ◽  
...  

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