MM&T Fiber-Reinforced Plastic Helicopter Tail Rotor Assembly (Pultruded Spar)

摘要

This program was directed at establishing the pultrusion process for the manufacture of helicopter tail rotor spars as a means of lowering manufacturing cost without sacrificing structural performance and keeping design changes to a minimum. The pultrusion process capability was successfully demonstrated by designing, fabricating, and testing a full-size tail rotor spar assembly for the YUH-60A prototype helicopters. Although the pultrusion process was determined to be a viable manufacturing fabrication method, the program was terminated prior to completion because the cost effectiveness and producibility of the pultrusion process as compared with present UH-60A BLACK HAWK production techniques are not sufficiently significant to warrant a change in manufacturing fabrication method at this time. (Author)