Abstract

Until recently, computer simulations of helicopter rotor dynamics have employed equations of motion that have been linearized or simplified. These modified equations of motion did not allow for the evaluation of nonlinear material properties in the rotor since higher order terms in the dynamics had been modified in the simplification process. With recent advances in both computer simulation hardware and symbolic mathematic manipulation software, the full nonlinear equations of motion may be utilized in helicopter rotor simulations. This dissertation reports on the use of the full nonlinear equations of motion in the analysis of rotor blade lead/lag motion and its effect on rotor hub and rigid body fulselage motion. Nonlinear modeling methods are implemented using Maple symbolic mathematic manipulation software and Matlab and Simulink computer simulation environments. Results are compared to the RAH- 66 Comanche Froude scale wind tunnel article and new methodologies evaluated in the search for a damperless rotor system that is free of ground and air resonance mechanical instabilities http://www.archive.org/details/nonlineardynamic00king Naval Postgraduate School author. Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.