Applications of optimization theory to helicopter design and performance problems

Sie sind hier: Homepage > Suche

Applications of optimization theory to helicopter design and performance problems

Nekohashi, T. / Nagashima, T.

Applications of nonlinear optimal control theory to helicopter design and performance problems are made in this paper. The following static and dynamic structural optimizations of a rotor blade as well as flight trajectory optimization are considered; minimum deflection of a stationary blade, minimization of hub vertical loads of a rotating blade in hover and the minimum time turns of a helicopter. Each problem is formulated in continuous system as an optimization problem with differential and non-differential equality constraints. The governing equations are derived with simplified assumptions, namely, for structural optimization, the rotor blade is assumed to be a plane tapered beam while for maneuver problem, a helicopter is modeled by the point mass approximation. Optimal solutions are obtained numerically by solving the two point boundary value problems using S.C.G.R.A. and M.Q.A. It is shown that the proposed optimization approach in continuous system is valuable for better understanding the essential features and their physical meanings of optimization in various helicopter design and performance problems.