Composite rotor flex beam flapping optimization

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The Canadian aerospace industry is the third largest in the world behind the USA and the European Community. In order to retain or improve its position in this competitive marketplace Canada must keep abreast of the latest technologies. Contingent with this comes a constant requirement to upgrade analysis and design procedures so as to exploit new materials and manufacturing processes. The overall objectives of this Collaborative Research and Development Grant (CRD) are to develop a better scientific understanding of the failure mechanisms of composite tension beams, to develop simulation software capable of predicting structural performance in a parametric design space, to identify improved structural configurations and capable materials and manufacturing processes, to build and test improved configurations and quantify the improvement over the baseline designs furnished by the helicopter industry. The proposed CRD will therefore focus on the acceleration of scientific and technical know-how relating to the analysis and design of composite tension beams typical of helicopter main rotor hub applications. Properly engineered structures employing advanced materials and manufacturing processes promise to deliver composite components of higher quality, with improved fatigue performance over those currently employed in the helicopter industry. The technology and procedures developed will be a key factor in defining competitive advantage and an enhancement to Canada's ability to bid on worldwide aerospace future major platforms. This will be crucial to the future Canadian economy.