Piezoelectric actuation of helicopter rotor blades

Nicholas A. J. Lieven

doi:10.1117/12.432727

2 July 2001 Piezoelectric actuation of helicopter rotor blades

Nicholas A. J. Lieven

Proceedings Volume 4331, Smart Structures and Materials 2001: Damping and Isolation; (2001) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.432727
Event: SPIE's 8th Annual International Symposium on Smart Structures and Materials, 2001, Newport Beach, CA, United States

Abstract

The work presented in this paper is concerned with the application of embedded piezo-electric actuators in model helicopter rotor blades. The paper outlines techniques to define the optimal location of actuators to excite particular modes of vibration whilst the blade is rotating. Using composite blades the distribution of strain energy is defined using a Finite Element model with imposed rotor-dynamic and aerodynamics loads. The loads are specified through strip theory to determine the position of maximum bending moment and thus the optimal location of the embedded actuators. The effectiveness of the technique is demonstrated on a 1/4 scale fixed cyclic pitch rotor head. Measurement of the blade displacement is achieved by using strain gauges. In addition a redundant piezo-electric actuator is used to measure the blades' response characteristics. The addition of piezo-electric devices in this application has been shown to exhibit adverse aeroelastic effects, such as counter mass balancing and increased drag. Methods to minimise these effects are suggested. The outcome of the paper is a method for defining the location and orientation of piezo-electric devices in rotor-dynamic applications.

Citation Download Citation

Nicholas A. J. Lieven "Piezoelectric actuation of helicopter rotor blades", Proc. SPIE 4331, Smart Structures and Materials 2001: Damping and Isolation, (2 July 2001); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.432727

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