Feasibility Study of a Novel Asymmetric Rotorcraft Configuration: Single-Rotor Advancing Blade Concept

摘要

The fundamental properties of rotary wings in edgewise flight limit the attainable forward speed of conventional helicopter configurations. Several technologies have been developed in the past to try to increase the high-speed performance of rotorcraft. One new technology is the Advancing Blade Concept (ABC) rotor, which does not rely on the performance of the retreating blades and therefore is not limited by retreading blade stall. The new concept presented here draws on the advantages of the ABC rotor but does not require the extra complexity, weight, and drag of a second, contra-rotating rotor in order to trim. Rather, a fixed aerodynamic surface is employed asymmetrically, which offers some attractive configuration synergy. A notional new vehicle was analyzed, and the potential performance gains from such a system are shown. The results indicate that the potential gains are significant enough to warrant further investigation of the concept in the form of a more in-depth clean-sheet design study.