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The Green Rotorcraft ITD is looking for expertise in helicopter rotor performance prediction and optimization.

Subproject 1: Innovative Rotor

In this subproject innovative active and passive rotor(blade) technologies for ecologically efficient helicopters are investigated. On rotor system level the benefit of rotational speed variations and their impact on the aircraft are studied with comprehensive industrial flight performance tools. From this activity specifications will be derived for the related reference for the specific blade design investigations.

The benefit impact on rotor performance and noise emission of selected design parameters in relevant steady flight conditions is systematically done with high fidelity, state of the art methods. Cornerstone of these studies is CFD simulation with validated rotor CFD codes. For forward flight trimmed CFD-CSD coupling using the CFD one side and comprehensive flight mechanic tools with elastic blade modelling on the other side have to be applied. The achievable benefits are evaluated by (time-accurate) post-processing based on global and local performance indicators.

The designs will be further assessed through an industrial validation process. In GRC 1 EUROCOPTER will evaluate important design parameters for the passive model rotor that will enter a wind tunnel campaign.

This Call for Partners looks for assistance in numeric simulations and specific tool developments as specified in the following GRC1 tasks: 

• GRC 1.1.7 Performance assessment of innovative rotors
• GRC 1.1.8 Method development
• GRC 1.2.1 Parametric studies for model rotor

The formation of a consortium of several partners working closely together in this call is explicitly desired. The partners shall be prepared to propose and cooperate on a common method set-up, and to harmonise and share developments and findings amongst each other and with the industrial partner.

Description of Call for Partners activities:

In task 1.1.7 rotor performance assessments in hover and forward flight are required from a potential partner. Here the substantiation of the state of the art performance calculation methods has to be executed together with the identification of method weaknesses and their alleviation. Innovative methodological approaches are searched, which strive for time efficient simulation on the one hand side and assure benefit evaluation on a modelling level reproducing blade local phenomena due to local parameter changes on the other. Access to a high performance computing facility seems obvious.

In task 1.1.8 method developments for shall be supported by the partners. These improvements:

• Solution of more extended deficiencies identified in 1.1.7
• Already known deficiencies (e.g. transition modelling applied on the rotor)
• Development/extension of new/existing optimiser which should be used and validated by the parameter study for the model rotor blade, but should be also applicable in a more extended industrial application.

In task 1.2.1 parametric studies with limited parameter set (e.g. non linear twist, anhedral) shall prepare the model rotor blade that will enter the wind tunnel. The model rotor shall be investigated in an equivalent full scale flight envelope with the above developed innovative methods. A blind simulation campaign defines the wind tunnel conditions and a meaningful test matrix. Maximum wind tunnel load conditions are extracted from the blind test simulations and are used in the blade manufacturing and structural design process. A final method validation takes place after wind tunnel test campaign in comparison to the obtained test data in order to proof the accuracy of absolute and/or relative performance indicators.

Acceptance criteria for partners:

• Technical expertise on the various fields of helicopter rotor simulations
• Proven experience with CFD tools
• Experience with research in the field of turbulence modelling and transition prediction
• Proposals of innovative methods in the context of passive rotor optimisation in hover and forward flight

  Expressions of Interest are welcome at this stage. Please fill in the relevant form and return it to GreenRotorcraftCalls@cleansky.eu