Aerodynamic Design Modification for Utility Helicopters

Wind tunnel testing and accompanying numerical analyses are the essential methods to improve and optimize the aerodynamic design of helicopters. The focus is on improving the aerodynamic performance and the handling qualities. Of special interest is the parasitic drag as a major factor for the power consumption and the wake flow caused by the rotor head, which can interact with the helicopter tail and influence stability. For this purpose, design modifications and their influence on the aerodynamic characteristics of the helicopter as well as on the flow field are investigated. The design modifications are evaluated by force and moment measurements, stereo particle image velocimetry, and high fidelity computational analysis. This allows us to compare the different investigation methods and design configurations to each other. The investigations are performed on the Kopter AW09, a 2.8-t-class single engine utility helicopter. Design modifications of the upper fuselage are considered for the presented investigations. © 2023 American Society of Civil Engineers.     «

Wind tunnel testing and accompanying numerical analyses are the essential methods to improve and optimize the aerodynamic design of helicopters. The focus is on improving the aerodynamic performance and the handling qualities. Of special interest is the parasitic drag as a major factor for the power consumption and the wake flow caused by the rotor head, which can interact with the helicopter tail and influence stability. For this purpose, design modifications and their influence on the aerodyna...     »