Rotary-Wing Aeroelasticity: Current Status and Future Trends

摘要

When reviewing research in rotary-wing aeroelasticity (RWA), it is important to mention a few historical facts. The Wright brothers flew in 1903, and Sikorsky built and started flying the first operational helicopter, the R-4 or (VS-316), in 1942. The R-4 was a three-bladed helicopter with a rotor diameter of 11.6 m and was powered by a 185-hp engine. Thus, there is an initial gap of approximately four decades between fixed-wing and rotary-wing technologies. Therefore, it is not surprising that certain rotary-wing problems, particularly those pertaining to unsteady aerodynamics, are still not well understood. The situation is further compounded by the complexity of the vehicle when compared to fixed-wing aircraft. The field of RWA has been the most active area in aeroelasticity during the last three decades. This vigorous research activity has generated a considerable number of survey papers as well as several books that have been published oh this topic.