Manufacturing Methods and Technology (MANTECH) Program: Manufacturing Techniques for a Composite Main Rotor Blade for the Advanced Attack Helicopter

摘要

This manufacturing methods and technology program refined the design for a composite main rotor blade (CMRB) for the AH-64A advanced attack helicopter, perfected the fabrication technology for manufacturing it by wet filament winding process, and demonstrated it through laboratory tests and whirlstand tests. The CMRB replaces the equivalent metal main rotor blade with a weight saving of 24 pounds and a unit production cost saving of $194,300 per shipset. Ballistic tolerance against 23mm HEI-T was demonstrated, and satisfactory erosion protection and lightning protection methods were incorporated. Keywords: Rotor blades, Composite structures, Ballistic survivability, Erosion protection, Lightning protection, Fabrication, Resins, Graphite composites, Fiberglass, Kevlar, Nomex. (KT)