Development of Technology for Increasing the Aerodynamic Performance of Rotorcrafts

Project title: Development of Technology for Increasing the Aerodynamic Performance of Rotorcrafts

Agreement number: LIDER/45/0177/L-9/17/NCBR/2018

Edition of the competition: IX

Project implementation period: 01.01.2019 - 31.12.2022

Project value: 1 200 000,00 PLN

Principal Investigator: mgr inż. Ksenia Siadkowska

Abstract: The aim of the project is to develop a technology for increasing the aerodynamic performance of rotorcraft by changing the geometrical characteristics of the blade. Actuators used in rotor blades will be made of shape memory alloys of a so far unused structure known as ""metastructure"". The experiments carried out by the project team suggest that it is possible to obtain an over-adozen-percent increase in the value of the lift force generated by the rotor blades. Current achievements on active control focus on the use of control elements and assume the modification of the aerodynamic features of the object by changing the aerodynamics of the flow (modification of the trailing edge, blade’s backbone line, etc.). The proposed solution also assumes the modification of the aerodynamic features of the object but by changing the geometric blade twist angle. It is expected that the demand for power can be reduced by optimizing the shape adequate to the operation phase. The resulting stresses can be more precisely selected, which limits an undesirable blade bending effect in favor of a blade twisting one. Having achieved this, it will be possible to improve the operability of the rotorcraft. Accordingly, the energy consumption in the rotorcraft can be optimized in terms of conditions of carried out missions, e.g. hovering thrust, a maximum flight altitude or a flight range can be increased. Actuators made of shape memory alloys show higher reliability compared to other currently tested solutions, still having a less complex structure, which reduces service costs. In the project, the operation of shape memory structures will be examined using unmanned aerial vehicle's blades regarded as the most promising market.