Form 9.B Project Summary

Chron:

971518

Proposal Number:

06.04-0003

Project Title:

Dynamic Stall Control on Rotorcraft

Technical Abstract (Limit 200 words)

A program for the development of an active control

system for controlling dynamic stall on rotorcraft

blades is proposed. The system utilizes an array of

pulsed jet actuators near the blade leading edge to

control unsteady lift and flow separation during

transient pitch-up. The control system will be

developed and tested on a rotor blade section

mounted in a low-speed subsonic wind tunnel at

Physical Sciences Inc. The ability to control and

delay dynamic stall events during oscillatory

pitching of the model will be evaluated in open-loop

experiments. Results from the open-loop tests will

be used to develop a state-space model to describe

the unsteady aerodynamic loads both with and

without control. Using the model, control algorithms

will be tested in software using MATLAB/Simulink.

The active controller will be implemented on a

high-speed digital signal processor and evaluated

on-line in its ability to suppress dynamic stall. The

experimental results will be used as guidelines for

the design of a Phase II prototype control system

for large-scale testing at flight conditions.

Potential Commercial Applications (Limit 200 words)

The performance of both commercial and military

rotorcraft may be enhanced through the application

of the proposed control system. The system will

alleviate problems which currently limit high-speed

forward flight and which produce excessive noise

and vibration in certain flight regimes. The

successful development and application of this

control system will result in the design of more

versatile and quiet rotorcraft and VSTOL vehicles.

Name and Address of Principal Investigator (Name,

Organization Name, Mail Address, City/State/Zip)

Keith R. McManus

Physical Sciences Inc.

20 New England Business Center

Andover , MA 01810

Name and Address of Offeror (Firm Name, Mail Address,

City/State/Zip)

George E. Caledonia

Physical Sciences, Inc.

20 New England Business Center

Andover , MA 01810